Some physicians recognize an abuse pattern in their patients and simply want to unload their troubles onto someone else. Many physicians order narcotics without adequate follow-up of their patients who are receiving them. There are physicians in practice who do not understand the differences between dependence and addiction. It is addiction that I do not wish to support. Dependence is not a dangerous problem in patients who need narcotics for pain relief and suffer withdrawal if not given a timely dosage of drug.
Addiction is another matter.
Patients with addictive behavior will obtain narcotics at any cost to themselves and others. They are not using narcotics for medical reasons. These patients come for a consultation and are not interested in any modalities of care I can offer them. They will tell me if I could just write a prescription for their favorite narcotic, they would not need any pain management therapy. I always tell these people that I am not a source of drugs for them, and to get them some place else.