Opioid Abuse Prevention


New Jersey is confronting a staggering public health crisis brought about by prescription opioid abuse. On February 15, 2017, P.L. 2017, c. 28, was signed into law, imposing certain restrictions on how opioids and other Schedule II controlled dangerous substances may be prescribed. In response to the new law, the Attorney General and New Jersey's prescribing boards adopted new rules designed to reduce the risk of addiction and the accumulation of opioids in the household medicine cabinets across the State, which are very often diverted for illegal use. Information about those rules, as well as guidance for prescribers and patients on safer pain medication prescribing practices is available here.

Click here to find a summary of the rules pertaining to the prescribing of Controlled Dangerous Substances ("CDS") in New Jersey and the requirements relating to when, and in what circumstances, prescribers must access the New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program. This handy 2-page guide reflects:

  • The generally applicable rules.
     
  • The waivers of certain in-person examination requirements relating to the prescribing of CDS and the authorization of medical marijuana, allowing the use of telemedicine during the current public health emergency, as set forth in Administrative Order 2020-15 (DCA AO-2020-15).
     
  • The requirement to co-prescribe naloxone to chronic patients obtaining 90 MMEs or more of opioids or the concurrent prescription of an opioid and a benzodiazepine, as set forth in Administrative Order 2020-08 (DCA AO-2020-08). (See FAQs)



Frequently Asked Questions


Agreements


Guidelines

   What Patients Should Ask:

National Transportation Safety Board

The National Transportation Safety Board recommends that health care providers discuss with patients the effect their medical condition and medication may have on their ability to safely operate a vehicle in any mode of transportation.


Regulations

Please visit the appropriate prescribing Board website for full versions of the Board's regulations.

Please read below for the Prescribing Limitations and Management of Acute and Chronic Pain rule language adopted by each prescribing Board on May 1, 2017.



Statutes

Last Modified: 9/8/2020 6:28 AM