Mandatory to Report Addiction???

[JNellie]

Like many people, I started taking pain meds for back pain (herniated L2 and L1).  I've been an addict for several years now and would like to see a doctor about the problem.  My greatest concern is that the Dr. will make our conversation and/or treatment a permanent part of my medical records.  Is it possible to ask a physician to keep a conversation out of his/her dictated notes and my medical record?  Is this a reasonable request?  
Thanks in advance...

[JNellie]

Thank you for the great input....it's very appreciated. To answer the question of addict or dependent, I am both. I'm dependent for pain relief but also take them for more than the pain.  In that sense, I am completely addicted.  I have never been to a Dr for a tramadol prescription.  I get them off the internet.  I used to work in a Dr.'s office and know what it's like to be labeled "a seeker", it's sad and a bit tragic to see the drug seekers coming in for pain relief.  Their names go on a statewide list and as far as I know, stay on that list for life (I'm in Utah).  I have never been to a Dr. just to see if I can get pain meds. I am most worried about things like life insurance and career moves (with new health insurance).  To qualify for new life insurance, they make you sign a medical records release form.  If I go to a Dr for help with this addiction, does the Dr. HAVE to document my diagnosis and treatment?  This is what I fear the most.
Can suboxone be prescribed for anything other than opiate addiction?  Or is a prescription of suboxone an automatic flag for addiction?  I know that suboxone is the most common form of treatment, but is there anything else out there that can be an alternative option?  I also need to start going to the NA meetings again, they are always helpful.  Incidentally, there are a few options for NA meetings...the regular NA meetings offered by the state, or NA meetings offered by the Mormon church...both use the 12 step program religiously (no pun intended).  I used to prefer going to the Mormon church's program since there are a lot of meetings at just about any time of the day. Neither group or program push any sort of religion, everyone is welcome.  One thing is for sure, I'm glad that NA meetings are anonymous. Thanks again for everyone's input.
JNelliE

[HARRYBEADS]

  Your records are there to help you so in the future you will not be given opiates that you were once addicted to so you can repeat the cycle. There are opiates that control pain and are not sought  by addicts!!!
   Docs do treat you different whether addict or dependant because addicts will hurt them selves by shooting, smoking, snorting and chewing  pills that are not intended for this, plus to get high you need to increase your consumption dramatically and risk overdosing, all addicts have seen a freind OD. Oxycontin is a perfect example, soon to be off the market because to many addicts are dying by chewing a few. I had an issue with opiates for a time and I want the Docs to know, to help protect me from the addict in me and monitor my blood for abnormalities. Dependants do not need to increase their intake for the same relief, it is a slow increase over years.
  
  You are fooling yourself if you think your records are kept secret by the Doctors. If you move or do not see the Doc for a few years your records are shipped to a holding site for a few years then distroyed, all anyone needs to get them is a name of your Doc and your name.Your insurance co. has copies of everything, and if your employer pays your insurance they have access, it's in your manual, if in Canada the Government gets copies also. Narcotic scrips get registered to a government agency that monitors the amount and if it's to much for to long you are flagged. Being flagged means they may show up at your door and you must have the correct amount of pills or you are labeled an abuser and the Doc cuts you off and then he is also put under the microscope. Now he will not be able to perscribe narcotics at all, this would effect all pain patience by lowering their quality of life. As an addict I would be sick for a while without it but life would go on after the recovery, but us that need it for pain related to a medical issue like your Dad,would have life quality lowering changes for life.
  Doctors are suspisious because they will end up having a review and at best loose their perscription writing ability, what good is he then unless you are looking for a referal?
  I have a pain condition and my Doc protects me by perscribing long acting meds that
are difficult to abuse and monitors me for signs of seeking.

There is a difference between addict and dependant all med professionals know this , the addict uses it like an alcoholic uses alcohol, more is better and life quality deteriorates along with family and friends. Pain that cripples and causes extreme suffering and is relieved by opiates improves life (dependant).

  Your Dad will benifits from records because the hospital would be able to see his past and get on with the issues. If I need a hospital visit my records are in my hand, they don't think twice about giving opiates to get me by, because they are justified by the records and are safe from the law.

  As mentioned before the records are your history and help eliminate the suspition and protect you from your self.

Harry

[sandee1818]

okaay why did a dr have you arreste because you id not pay the bill?

[AnonDH56]

JNellie is right on 1st paragraph, I cant speak to the second. I am quite sure I have been Blacklisted and cant get into any PM's now despite a lawsuit against a surgeon that operated on the WRONG disc and four 4" binders of records saying I should be on opiates for life and even a morphine pump. I have had two docs take my copay then send me on my way not taking my case. One even had the police arrest me and is filling serious but fabricated charges after I went to dispute a bill and collection's threats after seven months of bills since I was short on the copay. I think I am blacklisted for one or both, suing a doctor in the past and/or being a patient that requires high levels of opiates, despite all the records and MRI's I can come up with. I have a good lawyer but these PM docs have too much power and apparently have no trouble manipulating the truth. Also I may have been denied since the insurance I HAD (gone now) was always wined about as being poor, too little paid on the dollar.
Good luck.

[ADSF]

I respectfully disagree with HARRYBEADS.  Although doctors should not treat you differently if you've had an addiction, if I were in your shoes, I too would be concerned that present of future doctors might not take any pain-related issues as seriously as they should, because they may think you are drug seeking.   My dad is on long-term morphine treatment, and every time he goes to the hospital, they immediately look at how much he is taking and focus on nothing else but trying to reduce his morphine.  He was in recently with an internal bleed of unknown origin (he's a hemophiliac), and it took the hematologist 18 hours to see him, where the nurses immediately had the pain management doctor come in and try to reduce his morphine.  There are of course some very good doctors and nurses out there who respond appropriately to his pain, but there are an equal number who look at his meds, and make up their mind before they even get in the room.   You are right to be concerned.   I work in the social service field, and believe that all practitioners should take client/patient privacy very seriously.   I would again recommend seeing a addictionologist at a clinic not affiliated with any of your other docs, and do not consent to them releasing your records unless you know specifically where they are going and why.  

Also, the diagnostic manual professionals use for substance abuse does not differentiate addiction from dependence.    The powers that be have simply decided to use the word dependence rather than addiction.   Same thing.   It's true that some rely on the drugs for pain relief and others use it just to get high, but if you can't stop taking them, you have a dependence.   I hope you are able to find the help you need.  

[HARRYBEADS]

  Are you still suffering pain? and are you addicted or dependent?

  Addiction happens when you seek the euphoria of opiates, dependancy is what happens to you when you take opiates for an extended period of time for the relief of pain. Most people seeking pain relief would not jepordize the relief for a quick buzz. The pain relief and improvement in life quality far outweighs the brief buzz, just ask a person with constant pain in the 7 plus range. All Doctors know this and if you were perscribed these for pain relief and are now pain free then the Doctor that perscribed them should wiene you off. This is nothing to be ashamed of, it's what happens when you take opiates, and the Doctor will be anticipating this if the pain has been relieved.
   But if you are not in pain and abuse the drug you should seek help as mentioned above because addicts tend to substatute.
   In Canada all Docs that I know of will not perscribe opiates without you allowing them access to your presciption history. Some don't ask.
   No this is not a resonable request. Why are you concerned if it is in your record, it is there now you know based on the number of scripts recieved, and it being there protects you in the future from your addiction.

It's the trade off of pain relief!

Harry

[ADSF]

Hmmmm... This is a good question.   Can you go to a different doctor altogether to get treatment for your addiction?  That doctor should not release your records to anyone (including other doctors) without your consent.   I would recommend going to a doctor or other practitioner who specializes in addiction.   I don't know where you live, but in my state, records related to drug and alcohol treatment are even more restricted than regular medical records.  It wouldn't hurt to tell your new doc that you are very concerned about keeping your records private.   If you feel like you are addicted, please do get help.    Living with an addiction can consume your life, and it is not worth it to waste another day living with it.   There are medications (suboxone) designed to help people withdraw from opiates.  There is a credential MDs can get called an Addictionologist.  See if you can find one in your area.   Also, your request to keep your records private is totally reasonable.  Your addiction issues are nobody's business but you and your doctor's.