As prescription abuse has escalated to epidemic levels in the last 10 years, experts and leaders have long debated whether physician training should be a requirement before being allowed to prescribe such powerful medications.
Opponents of physician training believe such a requirement would impede timely patient care by decreasing the numbers of prescribing physicians. Proponents, on the other hand, believe required training could help physicians better recognize which patients truly need narcotics from those who merely want to abuse them, according to the news report.
Although any proposed legislation would require an amendment to the Controlled Substances Act and would likely face strong opposition, R. Gil Kerlikowske, President Obama’s top drug policy adviser, said, “[T]he White House is absolutely committed to legislation that will make prescriber education mandatory.”
Read the news report about training for prescribing physicians.
Read other coverage about pain management:
– 3 Areas of Focus for Safe Drug Management
– New Nerve Block Technology Shows Promise in Feasibility Studies
