Drug-seeking

The purpose of this policy is to support safe, consistent, and lawful prescribing of controlled and dependence-forming medicines, reducing harm from misuse, dependency, and diversion.

Indicators of drug-seeking behaviour include, but are not limited to:

• early or repeated prescription requests
• claims of lost/stolen medication
• requests for specific controlled drugs
• attendance at multiple GP Practices and/or services
• escalating dose demands without clinical justification
• hostile or coercive behaviour

As a general Practice approach, we aim to avoid initiating long-term opiods and benzodiazepines. We will not provide early replacements for lost prescriptions except for in exceptional circumstances. We may place you on a supervised consumption regime via the Pharmacy (e.g. weekly dispense).

If you are found to be drug-seeking, we will remove you from our Practice list.