Staff Reports
With a new controlled substances bill having gone into effect last month, the Department of Health Monday announced a new “Take Control” campaign, including a website.
The measure (HB 21) “was passed to address the opioid crisis by limiting the risk of overprescribing for acute pain, and it will not impact patients who have established a treatment plan with their doctor that successfully manages their chronic debilitating pain,” Surgeon General and Secretary Dr. Celeste Philip said in a statement.
“The department is committed to working with patients and the health care community to clear up any possible confusion about the new law to ensure that patients are able to obtain and fill necessary prescriptions for pain medication.”
The new website “includes important information and a FAQ to answer any questions the public or health care providers might have about how the new law affects their prescriptions,” a press release said.
Under the new law, “prescriptions for an opioid listed as a Schedule II controlled substance to treat acute pain are limited to a 3-day supply, and under certain circumstances up to a 7-day supply,” it says. “However, these prescription limitations to do not apply to prescriptions to treat non-acute pain or chronic nonmalignant pain.”
The Take Control website is here.
