A new requirement that doctors prescribing controlled substances get training on substance abuse is being criticized by doctors as vague and by addiction specialists as not going far enough, amid the continuing toll of more than a million U.S. drug overdose deaths since 2000.
The federal mandate, which went into effect on June 27, requires for the first time that doctors receive eight hours of training on opioids and substance abuse disorders.
But experts said medical professionals may never get educated on critical subjects, including safe prescribing of opioids, because of few specifics in the mandate. In addition, the one-and-done nature of the training means doctors aren’t required to keep up with changes in the field.
“It is very confusing,” said Dr. Kevin Zacharoff, course director of pain and addiction and clinical assistant professor at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine.
WHAT TO KNOW
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Starting June 27, doctors and others who prescribe controlled substances — which includes almost all prescribers — must undergo at least eight hours training on opioids and substance use disorder.
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Experts say the requirement lacks specifics, leading to confusion among doctors and a concern that key material — including safe and appropriate prescribing of opioids — will not be part of many physicians’ training.
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Some also criticize the lack of a requirement for continuing education on the subject. The training is only required once in a doctor’s career.
Zacharoff said he supports the new requirement, but “the lack of specificity means people aren’t going to really know what they should do.”
Dr. Kevin Zacharoff, a clinical assistant professor and course director of pain and addiction at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, said the mandate is confusing.
Credit: Stony Brook Medicine/Jeanne Neville
An appropriations bill Congress passed in December included the mandate that any doctor,…
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