The Georgia Dental Association and its members are working to be a part of the solution when it comes to addressing the opioid epidemic. Therefore, in 2018, GDA released its own Prescribe with Care initiative that focuses on education, collaboration, and administrative rule-making to ensure opioids are being prescribed appropriately when needed. As part of the Prescribe with Care initiative, GDA created an important resource related to the prescribing of opioids for its members. According to Georgia statute 16-13-56.1:
A prescriber who issues a prescription for an opioid shall provide
the patient with prescription information on the addictive risks of
using opioids and information on options available for safely disposing
of any unused opioids where such options exist. Such information may
be provided verbally or in writing.
All GDA members have access to a handout for your patients regarding safe practices around opioid use and where to dispose of them. This handout can be found on the GDA website at gadental.org/prescribe.