Doctor Shopping: 21 Percent Of Adult Orthopedic Patients Find New Doctors For Narcotic Prescriptions
Monday, August 11, 2014 - 13:31
in Health & Medicine
"Doctor shopping" is the term for obtaining narcotic prescriptions by seeking out multiple providers that has led to measurable increases in drug use among postoperative trauma patients. A new paper links doctor shopping to higher narcotic use among orthopedic patients. "There has been an alarming rise in opioid use in our country, and the diversion of opioids for non-therapeutic uses is dramatically increasing," said lead study author and orthopedic surgeon Brent J. Morris, MD. "Many suspect that orthopedic trauma patients may be at a higher risk for pre-injury narcotic use and 'doctor shopping.'" read more