Drug-seeking behaviour
June 9, 2016
Patients who consume either
prescribed or illicit substances in
a manner that is not consistent
with legal or medical guidelines,
and undertake to maintain
inappropriate levels of supply are
the subject of an independent
review published in Australian
Prescriber.
Drug-seeking behaviour takes
many forms and both GPs and
pharmacists can be part of the
solution to dangerous misuse of
prescription drugs, the article said.
The author lays out which drugs
are commonly sought, indicators of
such behaviour, and what strategies
pharmacists and GPs can adopt to
minimise the risk.
Controlled prescription and
dispensing strategies are
recommended, with strong
communication between GPs and
pharmacists being key to success.
Pharmacists and GPs are
encouraged to set up an
arrangement that ensures only a
small quantity can be dispensed at
an interval agreed with the patient.
In addition, a patient should be
able to have their scripts dispensed
at only one pharmacy, and scripts
written by only one GP, the article
recommends.
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