PRESENTED BY:   Robert W. Monteiro, MD, President

REFERRED TO:     Reference Committee No. 1 – Timothy M. Beittel, MD, Chair

At the 2011 Annual Meeting of the North Carolina Medical Society the Board of Directors approved the creation of an NCMS Opioid Death Reduction Task Force. This group has been tasked with formulating an action plan for the physician community to assist in the reduction of opioid overdose related deaths in our state.

Following two meetings in 2012, the task force has agreed that the NCMS should create a web page to educate members on controlled substance prescribing to include FAQs and links to successful programs already at work in North Carolina.  Task force members also plan to draft related articles for publication in the North Carolina Medical Board Forum as well as the North Carolina Medical Journal.

Additionally the task force has set a goal of increasing physician enrollment in the Controlled Substance Reporting System through a number of partnerships including those with the North Carolina Medical Board, AHEC and the North Carolina Chronic Pain Initiative.  Support to designate staff members to access the CSRS under the supervision of a physician, unsolicited reporting by the CSRS to alert physicians to potential misuse of opioids, and enrollment of dispensing physicians in CSRS may also be necessary in 2013.

The NCMS  Board of Directors at its meeting on July 21, 2012, approved the following recommendation from the Opioid Death Reduction Task Force which is hereby submitted to the House of Delegates for action.

RECOMMENDATION

That the following be adopted and that the remainder of the report be filed:

1.   Controlled Substance Reporting System (CSRS) Enrollment

That the North Carolina Medical Society supports the voluntary enrollment of physicians to access the Controlled Substance Reporting System.  (policy)

 2.   Disposal of Medication

That the North Carolina Medical Society supports drug “take back” events, when managed by law enforcement, for the purpose of safely disposing of unneeded medications, including opioids and other controlled substances.  (policy)

3.   Controlled Substance Prescribing

That the NCMS create a webpage to educate members on controlled substance prescribing to include FAQs and links to successful programs already at work in North Carolina.  (action)

Fiscal Note:  Estimated additional budget impact:  $5,000.  Current resources will be allocated based on the priorities of the Society and the NCMS budget.

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