Module 5: Monitoring and Evaluation

Lesson 2

Aberrant drug-related behaviour

What are aberrant drug-related behaviours?

Aberrant drug-related behaviours may indicate prescription medications misuse. Such behaviours may include:

Multiple unsanctioned escalations in the dose or inaccurate pill counts (too few pills or too many pills)

Alterations in the route of delivery (e.g., biting, crushing controlled release tablets, snorting or injecting oral tablets)

Engaging in illegal activities

Episodes of lost or stolen prescriptions

Frequent visits to emergency rooms or urgent care centres

Excessive phone calls to clinics

Concerns expressed by a family member/caregiver about the patient’s use of opioids

Unanticipated positive results or negative of random urine drug screening (UDS)

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