Background and aims: Community Health Care Providers (HCP), such as General Practitioners (GPs) are usually the first primary care contact for many people experiencing chronic pain in the UK. This initiates a care pathway for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (CNCP), whereby opioids are the most commonly prescribed treatment. However, an increasing body of evidence suggests that an existing number of patients under the care of HCPs already receive more than the recommended 120mg of morphine equivalent a day. This research is part of a programme of work that aims to understand the experiences of both HCPs and patients with respect to experiences of opioid treatment in CNCP.  
Methods: semi-structured interviews with N=16 HCP and N=13 patients were thematically analysed using an inductive approach.   
Results: the complexity of treating chronic pain emerged throughout all participant interviews and levels of care (i.e. primary, secondary, and tertiary). The diffusion of responsibility was a key theme; particularly around opioid maintenance, weaning and patient referral. Early diagnosis of chronic pain was crucial, alongside building trust and rapport and having a comprehensive understanding of a treatment plan prior to initiating it. Better communication was also commonly discussed between HCP and patients to make timely and informed treatment decisions.     
Conclusion: Managing inappropriate opioid treatment for CNCP in the community presents a significant challenge for both GP’s and patients. To optimise patients’ treatment, these themes suggest critical features that should be explored in the development of an opioid reduction intervention within a primary care setting.

"I WISH I NEVER STARTED THEM";. INVESTIGATING THE EXPERIENCES OF UK HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS AND PATIENTS OF USING OPIOIDS TO TREAT CHRONIC NON-CANCER PAIN