Through our articles, resources and multiple communications CMS offers ongoing educational services to its members and their practices.
Prescription drug abuse and misuse is serious problem in Colorado and around the United States. In 2010, more than 38,000 people died from a drug overdose in the United States – one every 14 minutes. Nearly 60 percent of those deaths involved prescription drugs and, of those, 75 percent were opioid painkillers. In Colorado, the number of drug overdose deaths range from 250-500 per year; in 2010 it was just over 300.
The rates of misuse and overdose death cut across all demographics, though they’re highest among men, persons ages 20-64, non-Hispanic whites, and those in poor and rural areas.
A small percentage of providers prescribe the majority of controlled substances but providers who do prescribe these medications frequently inherently see more higher-risk patients and are more likely to have patients who are doctor shopping for opioids.
Colorado is working to develop a coordinated response among the many stakeholders. Colorado Medical Society leaders actively participate in the Colorado Consortium for Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention and support the Colorado Board of Pharmacy’s efforts to enhance the Colorado Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) system.
Check back often for more resources related to physicians and prescription drug abuse, misuse and prevention.
Wednesday, January 01, 2020
Cover: Legislative preview 2020
CMS champions issues important to physicians and patients while defending medicine’s interests
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
New online toolkit provides evidence-based resources related to perinatal substance use
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Opioid interim committee releases summary of bills to be introduced in 2020 session
Wednesday, October 09, 2019
CMS comments on draft bills from the 2019 interim opioid legislative committee
Sunday, September 01, 2019
Unintended consequences of the opioid epidemic for cancer and palliative care patients
Physicians speak up about patients being denied needed prescriptions
Sunday, September 01, 2019
Physician participants in multi-specialty convening on opioids produce slate of recommendations
Sunday, September 01, 2019
Legislative committee on opioids continues crucial policymaking work
Physicians provide testimony on education requirement and gains
Monday, August 12, 2019
Provider Education Symposium: Call for abstracts for poster session
Monday, July 01, 2019
Physicians taking steps to reverse opioid epidemic nationally and in Colorado
Friday, June 28, 2019
CDC says: No shortcuts to safer opioids prescribing
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Legislative committee on opioids to continue crucial policymaking work
Friday, June 07, 2019
Physicians taking steps to reverse opioid epidemic nationally and in Colorado
Thursday, May 23, 2019
Interagency Pain Task Force releases new recommendations