Are you keeping your occasional substance use a secret from your doctor? If so, you should know that being dishonest with him is putting your health at risk.
Understandably, you don’t want to tell your doctor about the drugs or alcohol you consume. But, you rely on your primary care physician to provide effective health care. If he is unaware of your substance use, he can’t make informed decisions about your treatment.
Substance use, even occasional use, should be reported to your doctor. Below are some reasons why your doctor needs to be informed.
By making these excuses, people place themselves at risk for significant health issues ranging from mild to potentially fatal. For instance, the doctor may prescribe a medication based on inaccurate information. The situation can lead to misdiagnosis, incorrect medications, and ineffective or dangerous results.
How does substance use affect medications? Each drug, whether legal or illicit, affects the body differently. Combining these different substances can result in life-threatening side effects.
The implications of combining substance abuse and medication can be extensive. Here are a few examples of why it is important to be honest with your doctor about your substance use:
It may be easier to be honest about your substance use if you remember the following things.
First of all, try to think of your doctor as a scientist who is simply collecting data. He needs the information to assess and treat your health issues effectively. Being dishonest can cause life-threatening complications and can impact your physician’s integrity.
Still not sure if you can be honest with your doctor? Try to keep these considerations in mind on your next visit to his office:
If you choose to keep substance use information from your doctor, you are wasting his time and yours. Without the right data, he cannot provide the level of care you need and your health will suffer the consequences.
Alcohol with stimulants or depressants: Alcohol is a depressant. Combining alcohol with another depressant increases the risk of overdose. Combining alcohol with stimulants gives the body mixed signals that can result in serious side effects.
Mixing stimulants: Stimulants are known as uppers because they increase the heart rate and blood pressure. Using two or more stimulants such as cocaine, ecstasy, or meth can cause heart attack, stroke, liver damage, or brain injury.
Mixing depressants: Depressants are known as downers because they slow down your bodily functions such as breathing. Combining heroin, benzos, hydrocodone, fentanyl, or morphine can cause damage to the brain and other organs. It can also lead to overdose and death.
Combining two or more drugs is known as polysubstance use. By understanding the above risks involved, hopefully, you will be more forthcoming about your substance use when you visit your doctor again.
Intentional or unintentional polysubstance use can lead to addiction. At Design for Change Recovery, we offer a comprehensive program that is designed to treat these types of co-occurring addictions effectively.
Multi-substance addiction presents unique challenges in the treatment process, but we are equipped and qualified to give the highest level of care available today.
Before substance use damages your mental and physical well-being, contact us to get started on your customized treatment plan soon. Reach out to our Lancaster, CA facility to talk with one of our representatives and learn more about our programs.
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