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College of Physicians and Surgeons Adopts New Standard for Opioid Prescribing
In June 2016, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC (CPSBC) adopted a new professional standard on opioid prescribing in light of the increased volume of opioid-related overdoses and deaths in British Columbia.
Safe Prescribing of Drugs with Potential for Misuse/Diversion was created to provide further guidance to physicians when prescribing medication with high chance of abuse (opioids, benzodiazepines, etc.) It reflects many principles found in the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain – United States, 2016 that CPSBC had previously endorsed in April 2016.
In April 2016, provincial public health officer Perry Kendall declared that BC was facing a public health emergency. Opioid-related overdose deaths rose 30% between 2014 and 2015, and in January 2016 there were 76 overdose deaths – the largest number of deaths in a single month since 2007.
As per the new professional standard, physicians who prescribe opioids, sedatives or stimulants will be expected in the future to have PharmaNet access in all clinical locations and to use it appropriately. In situations where PharmaNet access is not currently available, physicians are expected to consult colleagues, including pharmacists, and prescribe only necessary medications until the patient’s dispensing history is available.
At present, walk-in, urgent care, multi-physician clinics and methadone clinics must have on-site access to PharmaNet. The College and CPSBC endorse the concept of mandatory use of PharmaNet for physicians at all points of clinical care.
