If you suffer from a severe form of chronic pain or are close to someone who is coping with this unfortunate problem, then you probably know the details about “pain management contracts.” In these cases, patients suffering from a variety of severe injuries or disorders will be prescribed opioids as part of their treatment regimen, and herein lies the problem. As part of this program, the doctor will ask you to sign a pain management agreement. Although this medication can be immensely beneficial in these cases, patients still have to be careful about what kinds of medications they choose to ingest. So, how are you supposed to handle this complicated mixture of pain management contracts and opioids? Let’s take a closer look and find out some more information.
Details of Pain Management Agreements
Simply put, a pain management agreement is a contract that requires a patient to follow all the directions for taking opioid medication provided by their doctor. These documents are not only designed to ensure the patient’s safety but will also provide protection for the doctor in the incident that a patient abuses (or becomes addicted to) the medication.
Although this is a common practice now, in earlier years, the distribution of pain management agreements was extremely rare. At one time, only pain clinics and pain management specialists created these documents. Now, thanks to the increase in opioid addiction and severe scrutiny from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), doctors are required to create these agreements to help patients who require long-term opioid use.
Details of the Pain Management Contract
Overall, the details of pain management agreements will vary greatly, depending on the doctor’s preferences and the patient’s condition. For now, here are some of the most common elements that can be found on these documents:
- An agreement that you must take the medication as your doctor has prescribed
- A consent to frequent drug tests (to prevent abuse)
- An agreement to have your opioid medications filled at one pharmacy and to allow your doctor to share your patient information
- An understanding that destroyed, lost, or stolen drugs will not be replaced
- An agreement to receive your drugs from this doctor only
Seeking Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
While absolutely necessary for chronic pain patients, opioids are deadly and potentially addictive drugs that can wreak havoc on your mind and body. Before you consider signing a pain management contract or agreeing to use an opioid prescription, make sure you determine if you can keep up with the schedule and follow the directions. Any bad move can result in abuse or addiction. The good news, though, is that you can always find a way to heal.
Are you suffering from opioid use disorder? Is your friend or family members coping with this same problem? In both cases, in touch with Asana Recovery today. Our professional team of counselors and healthcare experts will help you endure the painful process detox and withdrawal and guide you through each step of the rehabilitation process to help you separate yourself from these deadly painkillers.
If you want to find out more about our residential treatment or supervised detoxification/withdrawal programs or enroll in one of these programs today, we are ready and waiting to speak with you at your leisure and your disclosure. Call Asana now at (949) 438-4504 to learn how you can overcome your attachment to opioids and take an essential step against the Opioid Crisis.
