Misuse of a prescription drug may have significant implications for the worker. It can result in the person losing his or her job, and the worker may be held responsible for the entire cost of treatment.
Questions that need to be asked:
(1) What benzodiazepine was used, why and at what dosage?
(2) Does the patient have a prescription for the medication?
(3) Did anything that the worker do contribute to the accident? (is the presence of the benzodiazepine irrelevant?)
(4) Is there any evidence that the worker abuses drugs or alcohol?
(5) Is the worker involved in a safety sensitive job?
(6) Was the worker taking other medications that would affect job performance, such as antihistamines?
(7) Are there work-related factors (frequent shift changes, excessive overtime) that may have contributed to worker fatigue?
(8) Did the worker have an illness or sleep disorder that may have contributed to the accident?
(9) Is there evidence that the worker had residual drug effect or drug hangover at the time of the accident?
If the drug contributed to the accident, then it may be appropriate to ask the prescribing physician to change the drug or dose of the agent.
