TCU and UNTHSC School of Medicine cohosts health care forum on opioid crisis
Overdose reversal drugs, prescription monitoring could help in fight against epidemic
Wider utilization of overdose reversal drugs could go a long way in reducing the impact of the opioid epidemic, North Texas experts say.
So could responsible prescribing and more use of the state’s prescription monitoring program, which collects and monitors data related to Schedule II, III, IV, and V controlled substances.
“Responsible prescribing is one of the cornerstones of addressing the issue,” said Glenn Hardesty, an emergency medicine physician with Texas Health Resources and opioid expert. He said that changes in the approach to prescribing opiates have already curbed access to the legally obtained drugs. He added that building the prescription monitoring program and prescribing guidelines into electronic health records could further make an impact.