Patients seeking prescription drugs for recreational use typically exhibit all of the following behaviors EXCEPT:

Correct answer: D. Missing follow-up appointments is uncharacteristic — they usually attend reliably to obtain refills

• A. A classic red flag — repeated reports of lost, stolen or destroyed prescriptions.
• B. A classic red flag — requesting a specific opioid by brand or name.
• C. A classic red flag — reported allergy or intolerance to every alternative analgesic.
• D. Correct as the exception. Drug-seeking patients are typically highly motivated to keep appointments where prescriptions are issued. Missing appointments runs counter to the drug-seeking pattern.