Dr. Heit on Urine Drug Tests as Part of Treatment for Chronic Pain

Howard A. Heit, MD, FACP, FASAM, Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology, Diplomate in Addiction Medicine, Certified Medical Review Officer, Chronic Pain Specialist, Assistant Clinical Professor, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, talks about the importance of urine drug testing as a part of treatment for chronic pain and the purposes the tests serve to the physician.

Dr. Heit says patient-centered urine drug testing is a consensual diagnostic test to help improve treatment. It helps document the subjective complaint of pain with an objective test that can be entered in the medical record. It also helps diagnose the incidence of substance misuse, abuse or addiction as early as possible to allow a physician to address it.
 
Most importantly, Dr. Heit says, it helps the physician advocate for the patient in social, legal and certain other situations by showing with an objective test that the patient is compliant with a treatment program.