The Obama Administration is pushing for a mandatory training requirement for doctors prescribing narcotics in an effort to curb the nation’s prescription painkillers epidemic.
The mandate, which is one of President Obama’s top drug priorities, would require physicians to complete opioid-focused training furnished by the Drug Enforcement Administration upon the renewal of their licenses, according to a New York Times article.
But to bring this proposal to life, Congress would need to amend the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, which regulates the legal distribution of drugs.
The requirement’s supporters say that the training requirement will help physicians identify drug abusers and dole out prescriptions more judiciously, according to the article. Opponents fear pain patients will be short-changed and not receive the medications that they need.