Prescription Drug Addiction Blog

New reports are coming in from all over the US that more and more doctors are asking patients to sign contracts in order to maintain their relationship with the doctor and to continue prescriptions.

There are opposing views on both sides of this development. Doctors, of course, are suggesting that this helps to establish parameters and to educate as to dangers/risks and put in writing firm agreements regarding the use of the medications. For example many of these contracts detail how not to mix with other meds and others include promises not to sell or provide meds to others. To violate such a contract would mean being cut off from that doctor and prescriptions.

The question is whether such contracts are really going to deter someone who is abusing their medications. The reality is that those who already doctor shop and do whatever else needed to get scripts (legally and illegally) already know that they are at risk legally and physically. It may be that these contracts become nothing more than boilerplate templates that are signed off quickly but never really read and after a few strokes of ink, all else is same as before.

But what this could be is an amazing legal paper trail to show that the doctor is doing what he can to prevent abuse. It would be quite a document to show if a physical was accused of something improper and can also protect a doctor if / when they opt to cut off patient. That has legal risks, too. But with such a document I can see how they might use to cut off someone when they have finally become so addicted and dangerous that it's best to just push them away to find another doctor.

Consumer advocates are suggesting that contracts violate personal information and are intrusive and have little if anything to do with treating pain and easing suffering of patients.

On the surface this seems like something to get enthused about. At least it's SOMETHING in the right direction right? But the more I look at it the more it smells of a pretense to do good and to help. Very likely it will not impact a drug addict one bit. And worse, these contracts could allow already irresponsible doctors to do more overprescribing due to the feeling of protection they may get from it.