§1008. Education and treatment

            A. The board shall, in consultation with and upon the recommendation of the advisory council, implement the following education courses:

            (1) A course for persons who are authorized to access the prescription monitoring information, but who have violated the laws or breached occupational standards involving the prescribing, dispensing, or use of any controlled substances or drugs monitored by the prescription monitoring program.

            (2) A continuing education course for healthcare providers or professionals on prescribing practices, pharmacology, and the identification, treatment, and referral of a patient addicted to or abusing controlled substances or drugs monitored by the prescription monitoring program.

            B. The board shall, in consultation with and upon recommendation of the advisory council, implement an educational program to inform the public about the use, diversion and abuse of, addiction to, and treatment for the addiction to controlled substances or drugs monitored by the prescription monitoring program.

            C. The board shall, upon reasonable suspicion, refer potential or alleged impaired prescribers and dispensers to the appropriate professional licensing or certification agency to ensure intervention, treatment, and ongoing monitoring and follow-up.

            Acts 2006, No. 676, §1, eff. July 1, 2006; Acts 2017, No. 241, §1, eff. June 14, 2017.