Fewer than 40% of Arizona doctors check Rx database before prescribing opioids, despite state law

Arizona law requires doctors to check a state database before they write a new prescription for a controlled substance, such as opioids.

Yet fewer than 40% do.

Sheila Sjolander, an assistant director at the Arizona Department of Health Services, said department officials know that’s a problem they’re “all struggling” to address in the state’s fight against opioid addiction. Stakeholders met last week to come up with potential solutions. However, a DHS spokesman on Wednesday said he would not disclose details from that meeting.

Even though the state mandates doctors and pharmacists check the database, there seems to be little oversight to hold them accountable.

“That’s really up to the licensing boards, and it may not come to the attention of a board unless there’s an issue or a complaint,” Sjolander said.

Read more: https://www.azmirror.com/2019/04/24/fewer-than-40-of-arizona-doctors-check-rx-database-before-prescribing-opioids-despite-state-law/