Tag: Doctor shopping

Nearly every U.S. state operates a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that tracks controlled substances, making it highly probable that a doctor will know if I get a prescription from another doctor for this category of medication. The visibility of non-controlled prescriptions, however, depends on various factors, including shared electronic health record systems and pharmacy networks.

Millions of Americans affected by the opioid crisis rely on buprenorphine as a life-saving medication-assisted treatment. However, recognizing what is a red flag of buprenorphine prescribing is crucial for ensuring patient safety and preventing diversion and misuse.

Since 1999, over one million people in the United States have died from drug overdoses, with opioids being a factor in three-quarters of those deaths [1.2.7]. This highlights the critical need for regulating potent medications. The term 'pink prescription' can be confusing, as its meaning varies significantly around the world, from a standard health insurance script in Germany to a slang term for powerful opioid pills in the U.S [1.2.1, 1.2.7].

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, thousands of overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have occurred in recent years, with doctor shopping being a significant contributing factor. But what does doctor shopping mean, and why is it so dangerous?

According to a study published by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, medication discrepancies, including duplicates, occur in up to 70% of hospital admission or discharge records. This highlights the critical importance of understanding if **can two doctors prescribe the same medication** and the serious dangers involved.