Hiding Drug Use from Doctors Could Be Risky
People who consume alcohol or use illegal drugs could face complications with routine surgical procedures, such as a wisdom-tooth extraction, if they don't tell their oral or maxillofacial surgeon about their drug use, according to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
"Illicit drugs and anesthesia can mix in some potentially hazardous ways," said Sue Carlisle, Ph.D., M.D., chief of anesthesia and perioperative care at San Francisco General Hospital in California. "Since few abusers of controlled substances readily admit drug use to their doctors, it's important for OMSs to recognize the signs and symptoms of drug abuse and be prepared to intervene."
According to Carlisle, the signs and symptoms of alcohol and other drug misuse include unusual changes in blood pressure or heart rate, unexpected flushing of the skin, and exaggerated reactions to anesthetic drugs.
"Practitioners need to be aware of the physiologic interactions of controlled substances with anesthetics, because substance abuse is so common in the population," she said.
Since many patients are hesitant to report drug use to doctors, Carlisle recommended that OMSs elicit information through non-threatening questions, such as "Do you smoke?" and "How much alcohol do you drink?" Those questions, she added, could lead into inquiries like, "Do you use any non-prescription drugs or street drugs?"
"If you work up to it gradually, patients will usually tell the truth," Carlisle said.
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