Maine Joins Nationwide Effort to Stem Prescription Opioid Abuse

As legislatures throughout the nation ponder ways to rein in prescriptions for opioid painkillers, Maine has become the third state — after Massachusetts and Washington — to cap the daily strength of opioid prescriptions. The new Maine law limits the strength of opioid prescriptions to a 100-morphine-milligram equivalent per day. The legislation, which takes effect next year, also will limit opioid prescriptions to seven days for acute pain and 30 days for chronic pain.

Clinicians must submit opioid prescriptions electronically, using the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program that’s designed to prevent “doctor shopping” by patients. In addition, prescribing clinicians will be required to undergo three hours of continuing education on opioid addiction every two years.

The American Dental Association has designated opioid abuse as one of its advocacy issues. As dentists prescribe opioids — such as hydrocodone and oxycodone — the association urges clinicians to play an active role in educating patients about opioid diversion, misuse and abuse.

Legislatures in other states — including Louisiana, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts and Delaware — also are considering increases in restrictions, monitoring, funding and other measures to stem what’s been described as an opioid abuse epidemic.