People who have been in the healthcare industry for a long time, did you used to have to write legitimate prescriptions to alcoholics who would die if you didn’t?

The same doctor who tells you to stay sober for 2 days before surgery will give you a pill to stop withdrawal symptoms so you can make it through the surgery.<br><br>He’ll give you an opiate painkiller even though he knows you have a history of opiate addiction.<br><br>He’ll give you a benzodiazepine to stop the tremors so you can sign your consent papers.<br><br>How did this all get to where it is today?<br><br>My dad was an alcoholic and went through detox countless times when I was a kid and he was given librium every time. <br><br>I was on an antidepressant that caused akathisia and I was given a benzodiazepine to treat it and it ultimately led to addiction.<br><br>I just have a lot of questions for people who have been in the field for a long time.<br><br>I know that the crack down on pill mills and pharmaceutical companies happened over the past decade or so, but what about alcohol? When did doctors stop being able to give people librium for their problem? <br><br>Any info is greatly appreciated.<br><br>Edit: Sorry for the delay in replies. I’ve been on vacation!<br><br>Thank you to everyone who has replied so far. I have read them all and appreciate the time you took to respond.<br><br>There is a common theme about having to jump through a lot of hoops to prescribe certain drugs which is the opposite of how it used to be nearly 30 years ago. <br><br>Also, the doctor really does care about buprenorphine and the “sub” program. I remember my dad being in the methadone clinic. Buprenorphine was the go-to until it got abused and now the focus is on Gabapentin, not as a standalone treatment for alcoholism, but as part of the detox process.<br><br>Also, the big push is the “medication-assisted treatment” program, which is the “sub” program. You take buprenorphine and you must see your doctor and go to therapy weekly or they’ll take you off of the program.<br><br>The bottom line is that they’ll give you some meds to get you through the process but will send you on your way once they’ve done their job. It’s just so different from how it used to be.