Characteristics of Drug Seeking Patients

Identifying Patients with Addiction

With the opioid epidemic on the rise, it can be difficult for physicians to determine which patients are in legitimate need of pain relief and which are not. The more credible a patient may appear, the tougher it may be to identify drug-seeking behavior. Various methods can be used to determine if someone is seeking drugs, and being aware of these indicators may be beneficial for both the physician, their practice and their patient in the long-term.

This article outlines ways to find out if the patient may be showing symptoms of addiction and how to mitigate the situation by:

  • Collecting facts through PDMP and EMR data
  • Observing tell-tale behavioral signs
  • Preventing causes that lead to opioid addiction in the first plac

Jeffrey R. Lyman, MD

Dr. Lyman is a board certified orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Lyman is active in the fields of medical research and innovation. He has taught national courses on computer navigation in knee replacement and has published papers in the fields of ACL reconstruction, cartilage injury, and tendinopathy.

Timothy D. Chong, MD

Dr. Chong is a pain medicine doctor who practices in San Diego, CA. Dr. Chong is a Board Certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) specialist completing a residency at Stanford University. His decision to further subspecialize in Pain Medicine led to attending an ACGME accredited Pain Medicine Fellowship with University of Michigan Department of Anesthesiology. He has published and presented various research topics on Pain Medicine and PMR at a national level.

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