Although the majority cease the use of other drugs after sufficient time in treatment, some continue to 'doctor-shop' and self medicate. Before prescribing any formal withdrawal regimen, it is essential to ascertain whether the patient already has a narcotic authority, and who is their doctor. With a current authority issued, it would be unwise and possibly illegal to prescribe another controlled drug without permission. Shared care' has been used successfully for drug addicts overseas. The review may include an examination of dose levels, attendance record and if necessary a trough methadone level which is now a simple, routine test.
Pupillary size is very often inversely proportional to narcotic levels.
The writing is on the wall for benzodiazepine use. Greater numbers of drug deaths, increased risk behaviour for HIV and other communicable diseases, falls and accidents in the elderly are all previously unsuspected hazards. Recent years have seen a small but sustained reduction in the use of these drugs. These moves all greatly reduced the consumption of tranquillizers, albeit at the expense of some professional freedom. Meantime, non-chemical means have to be relied upon in most cases as doctors and patients await the perfect anxiolytic.