How Do Doctors Prevent “Drug Seekers” From Getting Their Narcotics?

Question by Lancaid: How do doctors prevent “drug seekers” from getting their narcotics?
And how many people with pain have to suffer and be labeled “drug seekers” because they went to the doctor.

Best answer:

Answer by tracyhide
I used to work at an emergency room and there were patients who would come in, check in, and if the doctor was one that didn’t prescribe narcotics, they would leave. THAT is drug seeking behavior. The same patient would come in multiple times each week and would only stay when the one doctor who would prescribe narcotics was on duty.

If somebody goes from one ER to the next THAT is drug seeking behavior. If they can’t say where it hurts and just keeps asking for a script THAT is drug seeking behavior.

Personally, I think there is too much dependence on drugs. I have had a prescription for a narcotic and I can understand how people can get addicted. However, I only used them when I was in extreme pain and tried to use ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin most of the time.

Answer by pamela700
i hope you’re not looking for the answer to this cuz you’re a drug seeker…

i’ve been in ‘chronic intractable pain’ for almost 9 years, injured in a car accident with 7 bad discs in my neck. ugh.

so i’ve seen em all, orthopedics, neurosurgeons, neurologists, pain management specialists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, accupuncture folks…the ways docs prevent drug seekers from getting narcotics are varied.

many doctors, even those dealing with people in excruciating pain, will no longer even prescribe narcotics. those that still do often make their patients sign a narcotics contract, agreeing that they won’t take their Rx too quickly, and what the consequences will be if they screw up. some states have programs in effect that track who is getting what narcotics from what pharmacy, designed to show who gets more Rx than they should (i.e., from multiple doctors, filled at multiple pharmacies). drug coverage programs often have limits on how often you can fill narcotics Rx, and make you wait until the day that the refill is due (or perhaps the day before) to prevent this problem.

a good way to prevent “drug seeking” is for the doctors to actually screen their patients and have full histories and diagnostics to back up any pain complaint. but of course, pain is somewhat subjective. and that’s the real crux of the problem.

lots of people in constant pain are wrongly labeled drug seekers, and it’s a real issue. for instance, i was once on vacation over the period of time when my prescriptions were due for refill. my doctor’s office mailed the prescriptions to my house (which is OK by law here in NJ), and my mom forwarded me the prescriptions via fedEx to have them filled where i was (in TX). unfortunately, the fedEx package was delayed due to an extreme weather condition, and i had to take a flight to CA. so my prescriptions didn’t arrive until 4 days later in CA. even though i was carrying proof of my prescriptions *and* my medical records, and my doctor was willing to talk to the hospital, when my friends took me to the ER because i had had no pain medication for 3 days (after normally taking 40mg oxycontin twice daily and some percocet for breakthrough for over 2 years at that time)…that CA ER looked at me as a drug seeking junkie, and made me wait with a blanket on a stretcher in an otherwise not busy ER for over 8 hours until they gave me any medication. i lay there shivering and spasming, miserable, all that time. they were punishing me, sure as daylights. i actually complained to the JCAOH.

i could give countless other examples, both of how drug seekers succeed and how non-drug seekers are suffering because of those addicted idiots and the medical ‘professionals’ who can’t tell the difference. feel free to email me for more.

Add your own answer in the comments!

Adult Male Drug & Alcohol Rehab Treatment – Do you or a loved one need help? Visit www.caron.org …or call 800-854-6023 Caron alcohol & drug rehab centers offer clinical treatment for drug rehab in Pennsylvania, with a regional office in New York. Caron has the most clinical addiction treatment programs in the United States for drug & alcohol rehab.