A patient with terminal cancer requires increasing doses of an opioid pain medication to obtain relief from pain.This patient is exhibiting signs of drug:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Patients in the terminal stages of cancer commonly exhibit drug tolerance,a decreasing response to repeated doses of a medication.Therefore,pain management must be carefully planned to promote patient comfort.Drug abuse is the inappropriate intake of a substance continually or periodically.Drug misuse is the nonspecific,indiscriminate,or improper use of drugs,including alcohol,over-the-counter preparations,and prescription drugs.Drug dependence occurs when a person relies on or needs a drug.Dependence leads to lifestyle changes that focus on obtaining and administering the drug.

A Patient with Terminal Cancer Requires Increasing Doses of an Opioid