Medical Providers

provider talking to a patient

What you should tell your patients:

  • Talk about the dangers and risks of prescription painkillers, especially those that include opioids.
  • Offer alternative prescription painkiller options (those that don’t include opioids) to patients.
  • Make sure patients are aware of the high risk of addiction, especially among young people ages 12-25.
  • Reinforce that patients should take medicine only if it has been prescribed for them by their doctor, physician, dentist or prescribing medical professional.
  • Reinforce that patients should take medication only as directed. They should never adjust the schedule or dosage on their own.
  • Store prescriptions securely – ideally, locked in a cabinet or drawer.
  • Dispose of unused, expired or unwanted medication properly.

What you should do as a medical prescriber:

To report an increase in overdoses, a potential overdose cluster, or any other unusual drug-related event, call the Georgia Poison Center at 1-800-222-1222.

Naloxone Standing Order and Medical Amnesty Law
Georgia has a  Download this pdf file. standing order which permits anyone to buy Naloxone at a pharmacy without a prescription. 

Georgia also has a Medical Amnesty Law, which provides civil and criminal immunity for administration of Naloxone, in addition to limited immunity for possession of drugs or drug paraphernalia to those seeking medical attention for themselves or someone else. 

 

Resources

Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)

All prescribers in Georgia had to be registered in the PDMP by January 1, 2018. From July 1, 2018 onwards, it's mandatory for prescribers to verify the PDMP before dispensing benzodiazepines or Schedule II opiate/cocaine derivatives. Additionally, prescribers can appoint delegates to access and record information in the PDMP.

Prescribing Guidelines
In an effort to help clinicians effectively treat chronic pain while minimizing the risk of opioid misuse and addiction, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain in 2022. These guidelines contain recommendations on prescribing opioids for chronic pain treatment, excluding active cancer treatment, and end-of-life care. 

Download this pdf file. A Survey of Emergency Department Opioid-related Practices in Georgia – Opportunities for Prevention and Intervention : Summary of findings with links to information on Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), safe opioid prescribing, patient evaluation and linkage to care, and naloxone and overdose prevention education.

 

 

Page last updated 6/24/2024