Survey shows 81% of doctors wary of taking on opioid patients
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Eighty-one percent of primary care physicians surveyed recently said they are reluctant to take on patients who are currently on opioids, according findings released this month by Quest Diagnostics Inc.
The Secaucus, New York-based drug testing company surveyed 500 doctors in July and August 2019 for its Health Trends report on drug misuse in the United States, released this month. It found that in addition to wariness surrounding chronic pain patients, 83% of those surveyed said it is “considerably harder” to treat such patients.
Other highlights include:
- 72% said though the country may see a decline in deaths related to opioid use, the “trade-off will be a greater number of patients whose pain is not managed;”
- 62% fear the country will be “trading off” the opioid crisis for another prescription drug crisis;
- 83% feel they are confident they would be able to recognize prescription drug misuse;
- 95% are confident in their ability to discuss the risks of prescription drug use with patients.
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