Drug feigning is a growing concern in medical settings, particularly emergency departments, primary offices, and pain management clinics. Many individuals will feign for drugs by faking symptoms to get a prescription for opioids, stimulants, or benzodiazepines. Drug feening, or fiending, is slang for experiencing a desperate need or craving for a specific drug.
Recognizing the signs of drug feigning can be difficult, especially with conditions that are difficult to evaluate, such as mental health conditions, headaches, and back pain.
Understanding Drug Feening (Fiending) vs. Drug Feigning
Drug feening (fiending) and drug feigning, while they sound almost identical, represent two entirely different acts. Drug feigning is when someone attempts or succeeds in deceiving medical professionals to acquire prescription medications. This is often done for recreational use, drug addiction, or in an attempt to avoid responsibilities.
Drug fiending, or feening, is a slang term for intense cravings for a drug. Drug-seeking behaviors like feening are commonly associated with addiction, as it is an obsessive or compulsive behavior to obtain and consume substances.
What Is Drug Feigning?
Drug feigning, also known as malingering, is the act of exaggerating or faking physical or psychological symptoms to obtain prescription drugs. Individuals who feign or malinger for drugs are often young adults looking to misuse controlled substances for recreational purposes. There are several reasons why people feign symptoms to get controlled substances, such as:
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Recreational purposes
- Selling drugs illicitly
- Avoiding responsibilities or work
- Psychological factors
Individuals struggling with a substance use disorder (SUD) or addictive behaviors are more susceptible to drug feigning to acquire more drugs. Others may fake these psychological or physical symptoms to illicitly sell prescription drugs like opioids or stimulants on the black market. College students and young professionals may feign drugs to use recreationally as a performance enhancer, particularly stimulant medications.
Malingering or drug feigning may also occur for those looking to avoid schoolwork or work responsibilities. Some people may have underlying mental health conditions, such as different types of personality disorders, that contribute to manipulative behaviors like drug feigning.
Recognizing the Signs of Drug Feigning
Individuals often feign for drugs for recreational prescription drug misuse, resale, or addiction. Some of the most common signs of someone who drug feigns include:
- Inconsistent symptoms
- Lack of medical history
- Refusal of diagnostic tests
- Exaggerated symptoms
- Doctor shopping
- Early refill requests
- Aggressive or manipulative behavior
- Requests for high dosages
- Demanding specific medications
- Frequent lost prescriptions
- Resistance to non-drug treatments
People who visit multiple doctors or emergency departments asking for prescription medications are often a red flag for drug feigning. Exaggerated and inconsistent symptoms, such as overstating pain without medical evidence or complaints that don’t match test results, can indicate drug malingering.
Individuals who feign for drugs often have extensive knowledge of prescription drugs while asking for large quantities or high dosages of medication. Psychological signs of drug malingering may result in aggressive or overly dramatic behaviors when describing their symptoms. When other treatments, such as physical or behavioral therapy, are mentioned as an alternative to medication, they may become overly resistant.
Drug Fiending (Feening): Signs and Symptoms
Drug feening, on the other hand, is when someone has a desperate craving or strong desire for a drug. These drug-seeking behaviors are often associated with withdrawal symptoms experienced by drug dependence and addiction. Someone with a substance use disorder (SUD) may “feen” or “fiend” for drugs, especially when experiencing an overwhelming need to use drugs.
The signs of drug feening are similar to those of withdrawal symptoms, including:
- Restlessness and agitation
- Sweating and tremors
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Rapid weight loss
- Obsessive drug-seeking behavior
- Manipulative or deceptive actions
- Anxiety and paranoia
- Lack of interest in responsibilities
Drug fiending is a serious sign of drug dependence and addiction. Recognizing the signs of drug feening is critical to help individuals regain control and break the cycle of drug dependence.
Addressing Drug Feigning and Drug-Seeking Behaviors
Drug feigning and drug-seeking behaviors (feening) are both deceptive tactics used to obtain prescription drugs like opioids, benzos, or stimulants. Identifying the signs of drug feigning and drug fiending is essential for healthcare professionals, pharmacists, and loved ones to help prevent prescription drug abuse and addiction.
Once these signs have been recognized, addressing them requires careful intervention strategies and preventative measures.
Implementing Preventive Measures
Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) and pain management agreements can help track prescription use histories and outline the rules and consequences of misuse. Extensive physical exams, imaging tests, and lab work can help authenticate the symptoms reported by the patient. Blood tests and urine screenings can check for the presence of drugs or inconsistencies in disclosed use.
Implementing preventive measures in medical settings can help prevent both drug-feigning and further drug-seeking. If identified, providing access and referrals to addiction treatment programs and support services is essential for those with drug dependence and addiction.
How to Help Someone with Drug Dependence
If your loved one is struggling with drug misuse and drug-seeking behaviors, recognizing the warning signs is critical. Pay attention to patterns of deception, financial troubles, and withdrawal symptoms when they are not under the influence. Encourage them to seek professional therapy, support groups, and medical detox and rehab programs.
When helping someone with an addiction or substance use disorder (SUD), remember that your well-being is essential as well. Set clear boundaries with your loved one while attending therapy and joining support groups as needed.
Drug Detox Programs in Stuart, FL
Tackling drug feigning and persistent cravings requires a multi-faceted approach of awareness, intervention, and treatment strategies. Understanding drug-malingering behaviors can help lessen prescription drug abuse and provide support for those struggling.
Coastal Detox offers drug detox programs in Stuart, FL, for those suffering from prescription drug abuse and addiction. If you or a loved one are struggling with drug feigning or prescription drug addiction, don’t hesitate any longer. Reach out to us today!
References:
- WebMD, 2023. What to Know About Malingering.
- Sage Journals, 2021. Feigning Symptoms to Obtain Prescription Stimulants: A Vignette-Based Study on Its Conditions.
- PubMed Central, 2016. Dealing with drug-seeking behavior.
- Western Journal of Emergency Medicine, 2012. How Frequently Are “Classic” Drug-Seeking Behaviors Used by Drug-Seeking Patients in the Emergency Department?
- Brain Sciences, 2022. Malingering and Stimulant Medications Abuse, Misuse and Diversion.
- Nicotine and Tobacco Research, 2015. Withdrawal: Expanding a Key Addiction Construct.
- World Health Organization, 2009. Clinical Guidelines for Withdrawal Management and Treatment of Drug Dependence in Closed Settings: 4 Withdrawal Management.