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Delaware releases new regulations on prescription opiates

Delaware Public Media

Delaware is responding to the ongoing opioid epidemic with some new regulations on prescription painkillers.

 

Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation announced Wednesday new regulations that will limit the amount of opiates given to new patients. It will also increase monitoring of chronic pain patients who use opioids.

Among the new regulations is a requirement for long-term chronic pain patients to take a drug test every six months.

 

“Not necessarily to make sure the patient is using illicit drugs but to make sure they are taking the prescriptions written for them,” said David Mangler, director of Delaware’s Division of Professional Regulation.

 

First-time opiate prescriptions for injuries or surgeries will be limited to one week. But that supply can be extended if a patient’s profile is clean on the Prescription Monitoring Program database and he takes a drug test.

 

The regulations will apply to anyone prescribing opiates, including advanced practice nurses and dentists. They take effect April 1.

 

Delaware has the 9th highest rate of opiate overdose deaths in the nation, according to state’s Division of Forensic Science.