Responsible Prescribing: Safeguarding Against Drug Diversion in Texas

At the conclusion of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Identify Texas statutory requirements governing controlled-substance prescribing and dispensing, including acute-pain opioid quantity and refill limitations.

2. Determine when Texas Prescription Monitoring Program review is required, including applicable statutory exceptions.

3. Select appropriate risk-assessment, monitoring, and follow-up actions for patients receiving controlled-substance therapy.

4. Recognize the appropriate verification, escalation, and reporting response to indicators of controlled-substance diversion.

This course provides a practical overview of responsible controlled-substance prescribing and dispensing in Texas, with emphasis on balancing effective pain management with patient safety and legal requirements. Learners will review Texas-specific prescribing requirements, including acute-pain opioid quantity and refill limitations; Prescription Monitoring Program review requirements and statutory exceptions; risk-assessment, monitoring, and follow-up strategies; and appropriate verification, escalation, and reporting responses to indicators of controlled-substance diversion. The course reinforces patient-centered decision-making, appropriate interpretation of risk information, and safe management of controlled-substance therapy within each professional’s scope of practice.

After completing this course, you will be able to apply Texas controlled-substance requirements, interpret monitoring information appropriately, and choose defensible responses to prescribing and diversion concerns within your professional authority.