Articles

Management of the Addicted Dental Patient (PDF)
Harold L. Crossley DDS, Ph.D., Omar Jones, DDS and Robert K. White, LCPC
In 1991, the American Dental Association (ADA) passed a policy statement recognizing drug dependence as a disease. This policy statement stipulated that dentists have the responsibility to identify patients who are actively addicted to drugs or who are in recovery. Dentists must include, in their patient health history, questions that address drug addiction and substance use. A positive response may require the dentist to alter the treatment plan and eventual dental care of the patient...

Outcome Study of Substance Impaired Physicians and Physician Assistants Under Contract with North Carolina Physicians Health Program for the Period 1995-2000 (PDF)
Oswald H. Ganley, PhD, PA-C Warren J. Pendergast, MD Michael W. Wilkerson, MD Daniel E. Mattingly, PA-C
The objective of this 6-year retroactive chart review is to compare outcome between chemically dependent physicians and physician assistants under contract with the North Carolina Physicians Health Program (NCPHP). Of 233 physicians 91% had a good outcome, compared to only 59% of 34 physician assistants in this sample (significant by Chi-Square method, 99.99% confidence). Fifteen percent of physicians and 37 percent of physician assistants were female with basically the same outcome. Alcohol, followed by opioids, was the predominant substance used by both groups...

Recognizing the Drug Abuser (PDF)
Harold L. Crossley DDS, Ph.D., Omar Jones, DDS and Robert K. White, LCPC
Telling the difference between a legitimate patient and a drug abuser isn't easy. The drug-seeking individual may be unfamiliar to you. They could be a person who claims to be from out-of-town and has lost or forgotten a prescription of medication. Or the drug seeker may actually be familiar to you such as another practitioner, co-worker, friend or relative. Drug abusers or "doctor-shoppers" often possess similar traits. Recognizing these characteristics is the first step to identifying the drug-seeking patient who may be attempting to manipulate you in order to obtain desired medications...