Preventing Abuse of Prescription Drugs and Pain Medications
Relieving pain from a patient while steering clear from the possible addiction to pain killers has become the specific problem health care provider constantly fight. This is the reason why doctors under-prescribe painkillers, because they fear the patients to become addicted to medications such as morphine and codeine. Although these drugs carry a heightened risk of addiction, research has shown that providers' concerns that patients will become addicted to pain medication are mostly unfounded: Most patients who are prescribed opioids for pain, even those undergoing long-term therapy, do not develop an addiction.
The few patients who do develop such an addiction usually have a history of psychological problems or prior substance abuse. In fact, studies show that the potential to abuse opioid medications is usually low in healthy, drug-free volunteers. One study found that only 4 out of about 12,000 patients who were given opioids for acute pain became addicted. In a study of 38 patients suffering from acute pain, most of whom received opioids for 4 to 7 years, 2 had become addicted, and both held histories of drug abuse.
The issue of inadequate prescription of opioids which leads to the suffering of patients has led to the development of guidelines for pain treatment. This may help bring an end to under prescribing, but alternative forms of pain control are still necessary. NIDA-funded scientists constantly search for new ways to control pain and to develop new pain medications that are as effective as the drugs we use today but do not have the draw back of a potential addiction.
Assessing Prescription Drug Abuse: Four Simple Questions:
●Have you ever felt the need to cut down on your use of prescription drugs?
●Have you ever felt annoyed by remarks your friends or loved ones made about your use of prescription drugs?
●Have you ever felt guilty or remorseful about your use of prescription drugs?
●Have you ever used prescription drugs as a way to "get going" or to "calm down?"
Role and Responsibilities of Patients:
There are many ways that patients can help prevent prescription drug abuse.
●When visiting the doctor, provide a complete medical history and a description of the reason for the visit to ensure that the doctor understands the Complaint and can prescribe appropriate medication.
●If a doctor prescribes medicine, follow the directions for use carefully and learn about the effects that the drug could have, especially during the first few days during which the body is adapting to the medication.
●Be aware of the potential interactions with other drugs.
●Do not increase or decrease doses or abruptly stop taking a drug without consulting a health care provider first.
●Never use another person's prescription.
Role and responsibilities Of Pharmacists:
Pharmacists can prevent prescription drug misuse and abuse by:
●Explaining how to take medication properly.
●Informing the patient about the effects the medication may have.
●Providing advice about any possible drug interactions.
They can also help prevent prescription fraud or diversion by looking for false or altered prescriptions.
Role and responsibilities of Health Care Providers:
Health care providers not only prescribe needed medications appropriately, but also:
● Identify prescription drug abuse when it exists.
● Help the patient recognize the problem.
● Set goals for recovery, and seek appropriate treatment such as Drug Rehab when necessary.
Screening for any type of substance abuse can be integrated into regular history taking with questions about what prescriptions and over-the-counter drugs the patient is using and why. Screening also can be performed if a patient presents themselves with specific symptoms associated with the abuse of a substance.
Over time, an indication of the development of tolerance can be seen in a rapid increase in the amount of a drug needed or frequent requests for refills before the quantity prescribed should have been used. Providers should note these changes immediately and they should also be alert to the fact that those addicted to prescription medications may engage in "doctor shopping," moving from provider to provider in an effort to get multiple prescriptions for the drug they abuse. Preventing or halting prescription drug abuse is an important part of patient care. However, health care providers should not avoid prescribing painkillers, if they are required.
About the Author
Ramy Daghstani is a spokesperson for Narcanon Quebec. Narconon is a non-profit drug rehab program dedicated to eliminating drug abuse and drug addiction through drug prevention, education and rehabilitation.
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