Question

we have been discussing drugs and how they are categorized into schedules although they have a high risk potential for abuse schedule 11 drugs do have legitimate medical use it is important as the medical assistant to be aware of any signs of abuse when it comes to prescribing medications what are some drug seeking behaviors to watch for

Answer 1

Drug-seeking behavior is a widely used term that refers to a patient's manipulative, demanding behavior to obtain medication. The patient may imply that the only possible solution to a medical problem is a prescription of a controlled (addictive) medication. For example, the patient may describe symptoms that markedly deviate from objective evidence or the physical examination findings. The patient may insist on receiving a controlled drug prescription on the first visit and claim that nonaddictive medications “don't work.”The patient may make remarks about having a high tolerance to drugs, may lose prescriptions or run out of prescriptions early. The patient may sell or forge prescriptions or may use the prescriptions of others, such as family members and friends. Some patients manipulate the situation by pitting one physician's treatment opinions against another physician's recommendations or by threatening to get the requested drug from smarter or more caring physicians. Nonpharmacologic treatment recommendations, such as behavioral training, psychotherapy and 12-step recovery programs, are resisted. The patient may offer bribes or sex, or may make outright threats of harm to person or property.

Some of the drug seekig behaviors are,

--> They claim that they need more drugs to replace a lost or stolen prescription

--> Misrepresenting their symptoms

Frequent visits to multiple doctors, including a willingness to travel to a different city or state to see a new physician – a phenomenon called “doctor shopping”

--> Unwillingness or inability to provide a complete health history or contact information for previous physicians.