We interviewed 6 primary care providers on their biggest challenges in treating chronic pain regarding the interface of pain and addiction. One of the biggest challenges was discerning drug seekingA patient who repeatedly portrays behaviors such as visiting a number of doctors or asking for refills because a prescription was lost in order to obtain more of a certain drug. behavior due to addiction from behavior that is due to untreated pain. We wondered whether anyone could share helpful experience on this topic.

Good resource

I have found this article, Should Opioid Abusers Be Discharged From Opioid-Analgesic Therapy? by Peggy Compton to be very helpful on this topic.