Drug abuse can drive people to engage in reckless behavior so that they can get the drugs their minds and bodies crave. Whether it is opioid abuse, prescription drug abuse, or some other type of substance being abused, it is often impossible for people to stop this sort of addiction on their own. If you are struggling with opioid addiction, Baltimore Detox Center has the professional help you need to end your dependence on drugs or alcohol.
In some cases, people may engage in an illegal practice known as “doctor shopping” to get large amounts of their drug of choice.
What Is Doctor Shopping?
Doctor shopping refers to when people with an addiction to opioids or prescription medication visit various doctors or pharmacies to acquire the drugs they desire. It is possible to get multiple prescriptions if you do not disclose that you have other prescriptions. Eventually, such a person will have numerous medications to use illegally.
Often, doctor shoppers visit urgent care clinics and emergency rooms. These people train themselves to depict multiple signs and symptoms so that doctors will not recognize that they are, in fact, engaging in doctor shopping. In some cases, doctor shoppers use different addresses and different names. Then, they often pay for medication using cash to make it hard to track their affairs.
Some of the most popular drugs that doctor shoppers seek include:
- Painkillers
- Muscle relaxants
- Antidepressants
- ADHD medication
What Are the Signs of Doctor Shopping?
Doctor shopping is an indication of prescription drug abuse. Those who participate in doctor shopping should enroll in an addiction treatment program at Baltimore Detox Center to get professional assistance with a prescription drug disorder. Some of the indicators that you or perhaps someone you care about are doctor shopping include:
- Visiting various doctors in different states
- Claiming that they have misplaced or lost their medication
- Requesting that their doctors increase their monthly dosage
- Taking expensive medication that they don’t need
What Are the Risks of Doctor Shopping?
When you start doctor shopping, you are engaging in substance abuse. This type of substance abuse may lead to an overdose or even death. A large portion of doctor shoppers become dependent on substances that have addictive qualities like opioids or prescription drugs. Once you start to engage in opioid abuse or prescription drug abuse, you will find it difficult to stop even when you are no longer in pain.
One of the most significant problems with abusing drugs like opioids is that they make your body tolerant to a specific drug. As a result, you will crave higher doses of the drug to achieve the same effect. That’s why you may start doctor shopping because you will require more than what the doctor has prescribed. Once you have gotten this deep into an addiction, you should seriously consider enrolling in a substance abuse treatment program at Baltimore Detox Center to get expert assistance and overcome the addiction.
Doctor shopping is dangerous because it:
- Enhances negative physical side effects of addiction
- Worsens underlying mental health conditions
- Increases the chances of a fatal overdose
- Escalates the likelihood of legal issues
End Your Need for Doctor Shopping with Baltimore Detox Center
Baltimore Detox Center can provide safe, affordable, and effective treatment for addiction to illegal or prescribed drugs. Depending on your condition, our specialists will recommend addiction treatment therapies to end your substance abuse. We have various treatment programs that can assist you in recovering prescription addiction with ease, such as:
- Drug addiction treatment program
- Opioid addiction treatment program
- Painkiller addiction treatment program
- Opiate addiction treatment program
Reach out to Baltimore Detox Center today by calling [Direct] or completing our online form for more information about opioid abuse treatment or prescription drug abuse treatment.
