Amendment Adopted: Limitations on Prescribing, Administering, or Dispensing of Controlled Dangerous Substances

Division of Consumer Affairs – State Board of Optometrists 

Division of Consumer Affairs – State Board of Optometrists Adopted Amendment NJAC 13:38-2.5 - Limitations on Prescribing, Administering, or Dispensing of Controlled Dangerous Substances, and Special Requirements for Management of Acute and Chronic Pain (Co-prescribing Opioid Antidote).  Effective Date June 20, 2022.

As reported previously, the proposed amendment did not receive public comment, and the amendment was adopted as written. The adopted amendment is now published. In accordance with the new law, a licensed optometrists must co-prescribe an opioid antidote whenever the optometrist issues a prescription for an opioid drug that is a controlled dangerous substance and one of the following exists:

1. the patient has a history of substance use disorder;
2. the prescription for the opioid drug is for a daily dose of more than 90 morphine milligrams equivalents (MME); or
3. the patient holds a current, valid prescription for a benzodiazepine that is Schedule III or Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance.

Read the full amendment here