A biopsychosocial theory and approach to drug-seeking behavior suggests new questions for the family physician to ask his patient when psychotropic drugs are being considered. The theory and rational guidelines for prescribing allow the physician to make more appropriate decisions when faced with difficult situations. Pharmacotherapy can then be directed toward alleviating anxiety that inhibits the patient's existing coping skills or toward activating the depressed/apathetic patient to use his existing skills. With this approach, social, psychologic and biologic coping devices can be simultaneously mobilized.