2013 New York Consolidated Laws
PBH - Public Health
Article 33 - CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES
Title 1 - (3300 - 3309-A) GENERAL PROVISIONS
3309-A - Prescription pain medication awareness program.

 
    §  3309-a. Prescription pain medication awareness program. 1. There is
  hereby established within the department a prescription pain  medication
  awareness  program  to  educate the public and health care practitioners
  about the  risks  associated  with  prescribing  and  taking  controlled
  substance pain medications.
    2.  Within the amounts appropriated, the commissioner, in consultation
  with the commissioner of the office of alcoholism  and  substance  abuse
  services, shall:
    (a)  Develop  and  conduct  a  public  health education media campaign
  designed to alert youth, parents and the general  population  about  the
  risks  associated  with  prescription  pain  medications and the need to
  properly dispose of any unused medication. In developing this  campaign,
  the  commissioner shall consult with and use information provided by the
  work group established pursuant to subdivision (b) of this  section  and
  other relevant professional organizations. The campaign shall include an
  internet  website providing information for parents, children and health
  care professionals on the  risks  associated  with  taking  opioids  and
  resources  available  to those needing assistance with prescription pain
  medication  addiction.  Such  website  shall  also  provide  information
  regarding   where   individuals   may  properly  dispose  of  controlled
  substances in their  community  and  include  active  links  to  further
  information  and  resources.  The  campaign  shall  begin  no later than
  September first, two thousand twelve.
    (b) Establish a work group, no later than  June  first,  two  thousand
  twelve,  which  shall be composed of experts in the fields of palliative
  and chronic care pain management and addiction medicine. Members of  the
  work  group  shall receive no compensation for their services, but shall
  be allowed actual and necessary expenses in  the  performance  of  their
  duties pursuant to this section. The work group shall:
    (i)   Report   to   the  commissioner  regarding  the  development  of
  recommendations and model  courses  for  continuing  medical  education,
  refresher  courses and other training materials for licensed health care
  professionals on appropriate use of prescription pain  medication.  Such
  recommendations,  model  courses  and  other training materials shall be
  submitted to the commissioner, who shall make such information available
  for  the  use  in  medical  education,  residency  programs,  fellowship
  programs,  and  for  use  in continuing medication education programs no
  later than January first, two thousand  thirteen.  Such  recommendations
  also  shall  include  recommendations on: (A) educational and continuing
  medical education requirements for practitioners appropriate to  address
  prescription  pain medication awareness among health care professionals;
  (B)  continuing  education  requirements  for  pharmacists  related   to
  prescription  pain medication awareness; and (C) continuing education in
  palliative care as it relates to pain management, for which purpose  the
  work  group  shall  consult the New York state palliative care education
  and training council;
    (ii) No later than  January  first,  two  thousand  thirteen,  provide
  outreach  and  assistance  to  health care professional organizations to
  encourage and facilitate continuing medical education training  programs
  for  their  members  regarding appropriate prescribing practices for the
  best patient care and the  risks  associated  with  overprescribing  and
  underprescribing pain medication;
    (iii)   Provide  information  to  the  commissioner  for  use  in  the
  development and continued  update  of  the  public  awareness  campaign,
  including  information,  resources,  and active web links that should be
  included on the website; and
    (iv) Consider  other  issues  deemed  relevant  by  the  commissioner,
  including  how  to  protect  and  promote  the access of patients with a

  legitimate need  for  controlled  substances,  particularly  medications
  needed  for pain management by oncology patients, and whether and how to
  encourage or require the use or substitution of opioid drugs that employ
  tamper-resistance  technology  as  a  mechanism  for  reducing abuse and
  diversion of opioid drugs.
    3.  On  or  before  September  first,   two   thousand   twelve,   the
  commissioner,  in  consultation  with  the commissioner of the office of
  alcoholism and substance abuse services, the commissioner of  education,
  and the executive secretary of the state board of pharmacy, shall add to
  the  workgroup  such  additional  members  as  appropriate  so  that the
  workgroup may provide guidance in furtherance of the  implementation  of
  the  I-STOP  act. For such purposes, the workgroup shall include but not
  be limited to consumer advisory organizations, health care practitioners
  and providers, oncologists, addiction treatment providers, practitioners
  with experience in pain  management,  pharmacists  and  pharmacies,  and
  representatives of law enforcement agencies.
    4.  The  commissioner  shall  report  to  the  governor, the temporary
  president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly  no  later  than
  March first, two thousand thirteen, and annually thereafter, on the work
  group's  findings.  The  report  shall  include  information  on  opioid
  overdose deaths, emergency room utilization for the treatment of  opioid
  overdose,   the  utilization  of  pre-hospital  addiction  services  and
  recommendations to reduce opioid addiction and the consequences thereof.
  The report shall also include a recommendation as to whether subdivision
  two of section thirty-three hundred forty-three-a of this article should
  be amended to require practitioners prescribing  or  dispensing  certain
  identified   schedule   V  controlled  substances  to  comply  with  the
  consultation requirements of such subdivision.