It is a new month and with that brings a brand new law for doctors to follow. As of April 1, 2013 (MONDAY), doctors will be required to look up their patients in the state’s Controlled Substance Monitoring Database before beginning a new treatment with an opioid or benzodiazepine and at least yearly thereafter if treatment continues. The state health department says the reporting will ultimately benefit all Tennesseans in helping to decrease the complex collection of problems associated with improper use of prescribed drugs.

“Just as we check for allergies before giving a medication intended to help a patient, medical professionals will now check the database to help prevent these powerful medications from causing harm,” said Tennessee Department of Health Commissioner John Dreyzehner, MD, MPH.  “We believe the April 1 (Monday) requirement for clinicians to use the database will improve patient safety, provide opportunities for counseling and referral to treatment to prevent misuse and abuse of prescription drugs, and help to prevent the use of drugs for non-intended purposes.”

In 2011, a total of 1,062 people died from drug overdoses in Tennessee. The database will provide clinicians opportunities to identify patients with potential substance abuse or misuse issues so timely counseling and referral can occur to help prevent future deaths. This identification is critical when patients are women of childbearing age. 

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In 2011, Tennessee recorded 629 NAS births. Prescribers and dispensers of narcotics who have questions about the Controlled Substance Monitoring Database should call 615-253-1305 or visithttp://health.state.tn.us/boards/Controlledsubstance/index.shtml.

Dept. of Health in Tennessee: 

The mission of the Tennessee Department of Health is to protect, promote and improve the health and prosperity of people in Tennessee. For more information about TDH services and programs, visithttp://health.state.tn.us/.

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Tennessee Department of Health