I have written previously about the raging opioid epidemic in Ohio. Attacking and reversing this tidal wave will require many weapons, resources and time. Opioid addiction is a crafty and elusive adversary that will be difficult to vanquish. Our battle plan will have to be nimble and adjusted over time, much as military leaders must do in actual armed conflict.
Here in Ohio and elsewhere, physicians must abide by new prescribing restrictions. Prior to prescribing a controlled pain medicine, doctors are required to check the patients OARRS report online, which catalogues the patient’s prescription history. This would alert us if the patient was receiving controlled medicines from various pharmacies that the patient might not disclose to us. Physicians and the public are encouraged to seek non-narcotic alternatives for pain relief. If opioids are prescribed for acute pain, there is now a limit on the length of opioid treatment that is permitted. There are exceptions which require additional physician documentation. The above restrictions do not apply to chronic pain or pain suffered by individuals with cancer or are in hospice. Importantly, these rules do not apply to medication-assisted treatment of opioid addiction.
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