Prescription Medication Misuse and Overdose Prevention

Prescription drug misuse and abuse, specifically opioids, is a huge problem in California. The Medical Board has joined forces with the California Department of Public Health, the Pharmacy Board, and many other State agencies and stakeholders to expand prevention and treatment strategies as well as to decrease the amount of misuse. In addition it’s important to recognize that these medications are needed and have “an appropriate use”. The Board is dedicated to working with the Statewide Opioid Safety Workgroup in educating and informing physicians and consumers, in conjunction with the Board’s number one mission “consumer protection.”

• Resources for Providing Medication-Assisted Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder
• Statewide Opioid Safety Workgroup
• Statewide Opioid Safety Workgroup Alert - Don’t Drop Your Patients
• California’s Approach to the Opioid Epidemic
• California Department of Public Health – Opioids and Pregnancy, What You Need to Know
• Naloxone Prescription Requirements
• Board of Pharmacy Naloxone Information
• Guidelines for Prescribing Controlled Substances for Pain (November 2014)
• SAMHSA Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit
• Free Pocket Guide to Tapering Opioids for Chronic Pain Available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• California Department of Public Health - Prescriber Guidance Letter
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Opioid Overdose
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Online Training for Providers
• Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
• Are Your Prescription Forms Compliant?