How do you treat someone who abuses a prescribed drug? They can’t abstain like an alcoholic because they really do need the drug; they just don’t need to take a month’s worth in three days.
It depends on the drug, in most cases, if they take too much, they’ll have to go without because the pharmacist won’t give them a refill.
If it is something they really do need, sometimes the best case is to change them to something else, something that isn’t as easily abused.
Well, it begs the question as to whether they really need the drug or not. They may think they do, but if they abuse it, I tend to take them off it.
Narcotic painkillers really are not all that good for chronic non-malignant pain anyway. They’re merely one tool in the toolbox for treating chronic pain, and I will use the other tools for an addict who misuses his narcotic prescription.
Now if they have significant acute pain (trauma, surgery, etc) or malignant pain from cancer, that’s different. Besides, less abuse goes on when narcotics are given for strict acute or malignant pain relief.
It’s amazing how well some patients function off narcotics, after years of needing them desperately for their pain. I see them working at physical jobs, playing basketball and baseball, resting comfortably, socializing, and all without the oxycontin which used to be absolutely necessary for their scruciating (sic) back pain.
As for other drugs, well noone needs chronic stimulants such as ritalin or amphetamine, or chronic anxiety meds like valium and xanax. They too are just useful tools for certain conditions.