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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2021 Jul 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Addict Med. 2020 Jul-Aug;14(4):305–310. doi: 10.1097/ADM.0000000000000587

Table 2:

Coding scheme

Behaviors that mapped onto DSM-5 criteria for Opioid Use Disorder
  • Taking the opioid in larger amounts and for longer than intended
    • Asking for increase in opioid dose
    • Using more opioid (medication) than prescribed
    • Overdosing
    • Receiving medication from others
    • Taking opioids for symptoms other than pain
    • Taking non-prescribed opioids
    • Hoarding
    • Inaccurate pill count
    • Continuing meds even when pain is stable
  • Spending a lot of time in activities necessary to obtain the opioid, use the opioid, or recover from its effects
    • Altering police reports
    • Altering prescriptions
    • Forging prescriptions
    • Bringing someone to ask for dose increase
    • Using multiple pharmacies
    • Multiple prescribers
    • Request to change providers
    • ER visits
    • Patient rep used to ask for opioids
    • Sending someone else to pick up prescriptions
  • Recurrent opioid use resulting in a failure to fulfill major obligations at work, school, or home
    • Missing appointments
  • Continued use despite persistent or recurring social or interpersonal problems caused or exacerbated by opioid use
    • Fired by pain teams
    • Interpersonal problems
    • Motor vehicle crashes
    • Arrests or legal issues
    • Anger or aggression
  • Recurrent opioid use in situations where it is physically hazardous
    • Motor vehicle crashes
    • Falls
  • Continued opioid use despite having persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem that is likely to have been caused by or exacerbated by the substance
    • Oversedation
    • Overdosing
    • Slurred speech
    • Psychic effects of meds reported
    • Unwillingness to explore other medications despite adverse effects of current medication
    • Side effects unmanageable
    • Motor vehicle crashes
    • Falls
    • Pain uncontrolled or unmanageable
  • DSM criteria: withdrawal
    • Signs of withdrawal
  • DSM criteria: tolerance
    • Tolerance
Behaviors that suggest deception
  • Altering police reports

  • Altered urine

  • Diversion

  • Refusal or resistance to bring pills for pill count

  • Changing from pick up to mail prescriptions

  • Forging prescriptions

  • Lying

  • Profile picture removed

  • Using multiple pharmacies

  • Suspicion for faking or exaggerating pain

  • Altering prescriptions

  • Requesting refills after hours

  • Attends drop-in clinic (not follow up) for prescription refill

  • Allergies to multiple opioids

  • Arriving late OR leaving early for appointments

  • Bringing someone else to ask for dose increase

  • Pain behaviors

  • Sending someone else to pick up prescriptions

  • Missing appointments

Signs of diversion
  • Altering police reports

  • Altering prescriptions

  • Arrests or legal issues

  • Buying opioids from street or non-medical avenues

  • Diversion

  • Forging prescriptions

  • Police report problems

  • Selling prescriptions

  • Stealing

  • Lost or stolen meds

  • Sharing medications

Non-Adherence to treatment plan
  • Non-compliance with urine drug test

  • Refusal or resistance to bring pills for pill count

  • Altered urine

  • Inaccurate pill count

  • Inappropriate serum drug test

  • Inappropriate urine screen

  • Urine drug screen negative for medication prescribed

  • Urine drug screen positive for substances not prescribed
    • Urine positive for illicit drugs
    • Urine positive for prescription drugs not prescribed
    • Positive for cocaine
    • Positive for marijuana