Walking a Fine Line - How Doctors Can Prescribe Narcotics without Feeding Addiction
We pain patients and our doctors face some real problems when it comes to narcotics, such as Vicodin and Oxycontin. As patients, we don't want to be treated like criminals for simply managing our pain, yet we understand that there are some criminals out there trying to scam doctors out of those meds. Doctors, meanwhile, want to help legitimate patients feel better, but they don't want to give drugs to addicts.
So how do we show that we aren't addicts, and how can doctors be sure they're giving drugs to the right people?
A new study from the University of Michigan and Ohio State University offers a solution. And implementing it takes work from both doctors and patients.
The study consisted of putting measures in place in one busy, multi-doctor clinic. First, it created an opioid registry of all patients who got opioids from the clinic. Second, it required doctors and patients to sign agreements detailing conditions for receiving narcotics. One condition was random urine tests for illegal drugs. Another was allowing the clinic to check state prescription records to see if patients were getting drugs from more than one doctor at a time.
The study showed that 35% of the 167 patients on the opioid registry violated the policy in some way. Those taking a medication containing oxycodone were twice as likely to be violators.
While 35% seems pretty high, the researchers expected the rate to be higher than it would in private practice, because this was a clinic where patients were likely to see a different doctor each visit, which makes it easier for addicts to slip through the cracks.
Are you willing to periodically take a urine test and have the doctor check your prescription records in order to consistently get your refills? Do you think a system like this should be in place everywhere? Post your comments here or in About.com's Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome forum.
Suggested Reading
- Read more about the study, and see if you'd like to recommend it to your doctor.
- Learn more about your prescription drugs, interactions & side effects with About.com's Drugs A-Z.
- Get info on multiple treatment options for fibromyalgia & chronic fatigue syndrome.
Comments
It may be a necessity for the medical system. I would be willing to do this if the testing could be done in a way that would not cause me to inconvenience my employer. I would want my doctor to be sensitive in explaining WHY I would have to submit to periodic tests. Perhaps a doctor could give a very simple pamphlet and say a few words in explanation that it’s a program-mandated requirement and in no way implies that the doctor does not have trust in me.
Patients should be made aware of things that could cause them to have false-positives (poppy seeds!)
Ultimately, it’s unfortunate that things are the way they are in the medical system. Can we honestly say that doctors CAUSE people to become drug-addicts? So, why are doctors held responsible for the personal choices that people make? Sure, if a doctor thinks someone is a drug addict, they can refuse to treat someone. Doctors shouldn’t have to be so fearful!
Would I submit to urine testing? Yes…if it would mean I could get the meds. necessary to control my pain. However, I shouldn’t have to do this. If I was getting illegal drugs…do you think i’d need to see a doctor for more? It’s costly and an infringement on others rights. Maybe the next thing would be to enter our homes and see if we have been on the internet searching on how to make our own drugs. I do totally approve of checking state records for the amount and type of prescriptions that have been filled for the individual. I have nothing to hide, so it’s not a problem. But to have to submit to a urine test just to get what I need…I would do it…I just feel it’s unnecessary and gives others more power/control than i’d like to see.