Use of Opioids for Pain Management:  Educating Patients and Providers on Upcoming Changes to Vermont State Law

Hodges, Ashley C

Item

Use of Opioids for Pain Management: Educating Patients and Providers on Upcoming Changes to Vermont State Law

Hodges, Ashley C

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Abstract

Vermont is suffering from an opioid epidemic. With 112 opioid-related deaths in 2016, nearly every community has been touched by this crisis. In an attempt to combat this problem, new legislation (effective July 1, 2017) will change how opioids are prescribed for both acute and chronic pain management in Vermont. Changes include dose limitations for acute pain, stricter monitoring requirements, and mandated prescribing of naloxone (an overdose reversal agent) for patients on high doses of opioids or on both opioids and benzodiazepines. This project aims to educate patients about upcoming changes.