Resources & Information

Jan 23 2017

Board adopts CDC opioid guidelines

At its January meeting, the Board voted to adopt the CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain. This document, which was developed in 2016 by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, replaces the Board’s previous opioid position statement, effective immediately.

Please take a moment to read the Board’s comments on the CDC guidelines, which note that the recommendations contained in the CDC policy may not meet the needs of all patients. The Board encourages licensees who prescribe opioids to familiarize themselves with the CDC policy and use it to guide - but not dictate - their treatment decisions. NCMB’s primary goal relative to opioid prescribing is to prevent inappropriate prescribing, not to disrupt the treatment of patients with a legitimate need for pain management.

Access the new position statement and CDC guidelines