Responsible prescribing of controlled substances.

One-third of the disciplinary actions against physicians in 1990 involved prescriptions for controlled or abusable drugs. Problems involving the prescribing of controlled medications may occur because of overdose, dependence or use by known drug abusers. A common problem facing the physician is the identification of potential overdose victims and addicted patients. Requests for early prescription refills, claims of lost prescriptions, frequent after-hours calls and patient intolerance to nonnarcotic pain-relieving drugs should raise suspicions of drug abuse.