Tobacco smoking in relation to analgesic drug use in a national adult population sample.

Abstract

Nicotine is known to produce pain-inhibitory effects. Here, we examine whether there is a relation between tobacco smoking and analgesic drug use (ADU). A probability sample of the German national population aged 18-79 with 7124 participants (participation rate: 61.4%) was used. All individuals underwent a health examination and ADU was assessed as part of an interview conducted by a study physician. Current and former smokers had higher odds for ADU than never smokers. Current heavy smokers (>20 cigarettes per day) had an odds ratio (OR) of 1.8 (95% confidence interval, CI, 1.4-2.3) for ADU three times per month or less and an OR of 3.1 (CI 2.0-4.8) for ADU once a week to daily, with never smokers as the reference group. Former heavy smokers had an OR of 2.0 (CI 1.3-3.2) for ADU once a week to daily compared to never smokers. The findings suggest that current and former smokers, particularly current and former heavy smokers, are more likely to use analgesic drugs than never smokers.