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Board of Medicine Adopts New Opioid Prescription Standards

Flickr | frankieleon

 

The New Hampshire Board of Medicine has established new standards for physicians when prescribing opioids to patients in the state.

WMUR-TV reports Governor Maggie Hassan tasked board members with drafting new rules for opioid prescriptions in November as a response to the state's severe heroin epidemic.

Under the new guidelines, doctors are now only permitted to prescribe opioids that are the equivalent of 100 milligrams of morphine daily.

Jim Armenio told the board Wednesday that the new maximum daily dosage wouldn't be enough to help his wife, who was injured in an accident 25 years ago, and many others who are suffering.

Board member Dr. John Wheeler says physicians need to be "more diligent" with their prescribing habits in addition to keeping track of patients on such medication.

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