Use these tips to stop OxyContin diversion
The federal Center for Substance Abuse Treatment offers many protocols for improving the treatment of drug abuse. For more information, go to
http://www.samhsa.gov/centers/csat/csat.html and scroll down to "Treatment Improvement Protocols" -- or contact CSAT at (800) 729-6686. Purdue
Pharma has developed the following steps to stop diversion of OxyContin:
Protect your prescriptions:
~Keep prescription pads in your pocket or lock them up.
~Never sign an incomplete prescription.
~Use tamper-resistant prescription pads -- they can't be photocopied.
~Write the quantity and strength of drugs on your prescriptions in both numbers and letters (the way you
write checks).
~Write on the prescription the name of the pharmacy the patient intends to use.
~Consider faxing the prescription to the pharmacy for authentication by pharmacists.
~Don't print your medical license number on the pad -- write it in when you write a prescription.
Be wary of the stranger who:
1. Wants an appointment toward the end of office hours or telephones/arrives after regular hours;
2. Insists on being seen immediately/demands immediate action;
3. Is not having a physical exam, giving permission to obtain past records or undergoing diagnostic tests;
4. Is extremely slovenly or is overdressed;
5. Is unwilling/unable to give name of regular physician -- may claim to have no health insurance;
6. Can't recall hospital/clinic where past records are kept or says it went out of business;
7. Claims to have lost a prescription or forgotten to pack a medication or says it was stolen;
8. Exaggerates/feigns medical problems;
9. Recites textbook symptoms/gives vague medical history;
10. Has no interest in diagnosis/referral -- wants a prescription now;
11. Shows unusual knowledge of controlled substances;
12. Requests a specific controlled drug and is unwilling to try another medication; or
13. States that specific nonopioid analgesics do not work or that she or he is allergic to them.