Abuse & Misuse of Prescription Drugs
This site was prepared in cooperation with the following agencies: Texas Medical Board , Texas State Board of Podiatric Medical Examiners, State Board of Dental Examiners, Board of Nurse Examiners, Texas Optometry Board, and Texas State Board of Pharmacy.
Within
the last decade, abuse and misuse of certain prescription drugs, especially pain
medications, has become prevalent. Studies have indicated that educating health care
providers about the growing problem and providing them with information will create a
heightened awareness of the appropriate use of pain medication as well as the misuses and
diversion of addictive pain medications. This website contains resources for information
on:
(1) prescribing and dispensing pain medications
(2) abusive and addictive behavior of certain persons who use prescription pain
medications
(3) common diversion strategies employed by certain persons who use prescription pain
medications, including fraudulent patterns
(4) the appropriate use of pain medications and the difference between addiction,
pseudo-addiction, tolerance, and physical dependence
(5) information regarding the services provided by poison control centers
Agency Guidelines/Position Statements on the Treatment of Pain
Position Statement on the Treatment of Pain
Corresponding Responsibility
General Information for Health Professionals
Red Flags
Information from the Missouri Task Force on
Misuse, Abuse, and Diversion of Prescription Drugs to increase Awareness of America's drug
abuse problem. (PDF)
Information on The President's National Drug Control Strategy
Aware Rx - Prescription Drug Safety
RxPatrol - Prescription Pattern
Analysis Tracking Robberies
and Other Losses.
National
Comprehensive Cancer Network - Practice Guidelines in Oncology
Information regarding services provided by Poison Control Centers
Corresponding Responsibility – A Shared Obligation
Peer Assistance Programs for Health Professionals
Dentists - Peer
Assistance for Dentists
Nurses - Texas Peer Assistance Program
for Nurses (TPAPN)
Pharmacists - Professional
Recovery Network (PRN)
Addiction in Pharmacy – the Untold Truth
Other helpful links
American Cancer Society
CDC - Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
Coalition Against Drug Abuse
Health and Human Services
Medicine Net
National Alcohol Screening Day
National Institute on Drug Abuse
Partners Against Pain
Texas Pain Society
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