What is an essential practice for prescribers to safeguard against controlled substance misuse?

Ensuring prescriptions are written on tamper-proof paper is essential for safeguarding against controlled substance misuse because it significantly reduces the potential for fraudulent alterations or duplications of the prescriptions. Tamper-proof prescriptions include features that make it difficult to change the dosage, medication type, or prescription date, thus protecting the integrity of the prescription. This practice helps to prevent scenarios such as “doctor shopping” where patients might seek multiple prescriptions from different providers, posing a risk for misuse and addiction.

While the other options can contribute to patient management, they do not offer the same level of protection against the risk of prescription fraud. For example, providing prescriptions only at the first visit limits ongoing assessment and oversight of the patient’s adherence and response to medication. Follow-up phone calls can be beneficial for monitoring but might not prevent a fraudulent situation from occurring. Counseling on usage limits is important for educating patients about their medications and reducing misuse but does not physically prevent manipulation of the prescription itself. Therefore, the use of tamper-proof paper is a vital and proactive measure for prescribers in this context.