Prevalence of Substance Use in Patients With Cancer Receiving Radiation Therapy

Abstract

The prevalence rates of AISU in this sample were slightly lower than estimates for the general population and inconsistency was noted in the documentation of relevant information. Despite the limitations, data analyses suggested that a significant percentage of patients receiving radiation therapy for cancer diagnoses exhibited substance use patterns that placed them at increased risk for negative short- and long-term outcomes. The findings support the need for systematic substance use screening, assessment, and risk-based interventions as an essential component of comprehensive cancer care.

Risks of alcohol and drug use disorders in prostate cancer survivors: a national cohort study

“…Less is known, however, about SUDs as potential outcomes in cancer survivors. A systematic review of 21 studies of patients with cancer (the most common sites were breast or head and neck) found that SUD rates varied widely across studies (2% ( 10 ) to 35% ( 11 )), with a median rate of 18% for opioids and 25% for alcohol ( 4 ). Most studies, however, have been limited by lack of information about cancer treatment, inability to assess confounding, or aggregating all substances ( 4 ).…”