Feigning vs Feening (Fiending) For Drugs

Feigning Drugs: What Is It?

In clinical settings, “feigning drugs” is when a patient fakes or exacerbates symptoms of a medical condition to obtain prescription medications.

Because “feigning drugs” sounds a lot like the slang term “fiending drugs,” or “feening drugs,” the terms are sometimes used interchangeably. 

“Fiending” is used to describe when a person experiences intense cravings for drugs, usually due to prolonged substance use and addiction.

Both feigning drugs and craving drugs may be signs that a person requires treatment for addiction, a complex mental health disorder.

Etymology And Examples

The word “feigning” has its etymology in the Old French word “feindre,” meaning to pretend or simulate.

The modern definition of “feign” is “to give a false appearance of … to assert as if true: pretend.” 

When feigning, patients may fake or exaggerate symptoms, make up stories, or otherwise manipulate healthcare professionals to obtain prescription medications.

A study in the JAMA Network highlights incidents in which patients have faked Parkinson’s disease symptoms, such as spasms or rigidity, to obtain Parkinson’s medications.

According to another JAMA Network study, other cases involve faking attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) symptoms to obtain stimulant prescriptions. 

Why Do People Feign Drugs?

People may feign drugs in order to use these medications themselves or to sell them.

Misusing prescription medications may lead to an addiction, and lying to obtain drugs or to cover up drug misuse is a common sign of addiction.

In many cases, when a person with an addiction can no longer obtain the drug, they will experience difficult physical and mental withdrawal symptoms.

Because these symptoms go away once drug use resumes, people may go to great lengths to obtain the substance.

If people are manipulating doctors in order to obtain drugs, they may require professional addiction treatment.

Implications Of Feigning Drugs

Feigning drugs poses significant challenges for healthcare professionals.

For example, the prescribing of these powerful drugs, often opioids and stimulants, can lead to other patients not being able to access the medicine they need.

It can also, unknowingly, contribute to a person’s addiction, delaying access to necessary addiction treatment.

What Is ‘Feening’ For Drugs?

“Feening” for drugs, which easily can be confused with “feigning drugs,” is a slang term that holds a somewhat close but different definition. 

When someone is “feening” or “fiending” a drug, it means they are experiencing intense cravings for the substance. 

The term comes with negative connotations similar to those related to other slang terms associated with addiction, such as “drug feen” or “drug fiend,” “junkie,” and “crackhead.”

Use of these terms contributes to the stigma surrounding addiction and may delay a person’s efforts to seek treatment.

Encouraging a shift toward more empathetic and accurate language when discussing addiction can lead to promoting understanding and reducing stigma.

Drug Cravings, Drug Feigning, And Other Signs Of Addiction

Drug cravings are just one sign of a substance use disorder that requires treatment.

People may crave drugs to alleviate withdrawal symptoms, such as anxiety or insomnia, that arise when they stop using the drug.

Cravings may be accompanied by:

• obsessive thoughts
• physical discomfort
• psychological distress

Strong cravings may also be due to psychological compulsion driven by the euphoric effects of drug use. 

When addiction goes untreated, people may go to great lengths to obtain drugs, including feigning drugs from doctors and other healthcare providers.

Drug-seeking behavior is yet another sign of a substance use disorder, as is continuing to use drugs despite negative consequences.

Treatment Options For Drug Addiction

People facing drug or alcohol addiction can find recovery through evidence-based and holistic addiction treatment options.

These include various levels of care, with more intensive levels benefitting people with more severe addictions. 

Levels of care in addiction treatment include:

• medical detox
• inpatient treatment
• residential rehab
• partial hospitalization (PHP) and other outpatient programs
• medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
• aftercare

Within these levels of care, clients may undergo psychiatric care, group therapy, substance abuse counseling, and other services to overcome addiction. 

Find Addiction Treatment Today 

You or your loved one can start overcoming drug addiction and find well-being today. Call FreeRehabCenters.net to learn more.

Published on May 9, 2024

Written by the Free Rehab Centers Editorial Staff