Which of these patients would the EMT recognize as a drug abuser?

A drug abuser is typically characterized by the misuse of substances in a manner that is not medically authorized, often leading to negative health, social, or legal consequences. In this scenario, the individual taking pain medications without the presence of pain demonstrates a pattern consistent with substance abuse. This patient is using medications inappropriately, which can indicate a dependency or addiction, as they are consuming these drugs solely for potential psychoactive effects rather than for legitimate medical reasons.

The other scenarios do not necessarily indicate drug abuse. The individual who tried marijuana for the first time is not likely classified as a drug abuser based solely on this single instance, as experimentation does not reflect a pattern of misuse. The patient who accidentally took an extra dose of medication implies a lack of intention to misuse drugs, as this incident arose from an error rather than a conscious decision to abuse. Lastly, while the woman who used cocaine for a decade may have a history of addiction, her current state—being clean for five years—indicates recovery rather than ongoing abuse. Thus, option D most clearly aligns with the definition of a drug abuser in this context.