Safe and Effective Prescription of Controlled Substances

Course overview

Prescription drug use disorder has become more common, including amongst patients initially considered low risk. The misuse of prescription drugs has increased concurrently with greater prescribing of medication for therapeutic use, especially true of opioid analgesics prescribed for chronic pain, stimulants prescribed for individuals with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and benzodiazepines prescribed for anxiety/insomnia. Efforts to prevent and reduce the misuse of controlled substances and the risk of a substance use disorder include an understanding of drug Schedules, following guidelines related to the prescription of substances within each Schedule, and utilization of state monitoring programs.