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IOWA BOARD OF PHARMACY EXAMINERS
POSITION STATEMENT
The mission of the Iowa Board of Pharmacy Examiners is to promote, preserve and protect the public health, safety and welfare by fostering the provision of quality pharmaceutical care to all Iowans. As part of that endeavor, the Board strives to ensure that all Iowans have access to pain relief medication. Appropriate and effective use of pain medication can improve a patient’s quality of life and reduce costs associated with inadequately treated pain, whether due to cancer or non-cancer origins. Inadequate pain control often results from a lack of knowledge and/or understanding of proper pain management by health care professionals and patients. All pharmacists should increase their knowledge of current medical standards for the treatment of pain, develop effective strategies for delivering pharmaceutical care to patients suffering from pain, and actively participate as a member of the health care team by providing pharmaceutical expertise to the patient, physician, nurse, and hospice provider or other caregiver.
The Board recognizes that the use of controlled substances, including opioid analgesics, is often essential for adequate pain control. The sustained use of these drugs may result in physical and psychological dependence; thus care must be taken to balance these risks against the desired outcome of effective pain control. Health care professionals must remain alert to the fact that these drugs are subject to abuse and some patients will seek them for illegitimate uses.
Controlled substances shall only be dispensed for legitimate medical purposes. Dispensing controlled drugs to a patient without a legitimate medical purpose violates state and federal laws. Dispensing must be based on a valid prescription issued within currently accepted medical standards for the treatment of pain. Pharmacists who dispense such medications pursuant to a legitimate prescription and in conformance with the standard of care need not fear action by the Board. By participating as a member of the health care team, pharmacists can ensure quality pharmaceutical care for patients suffering from pain and can reduce the potential for drug diversion and abuse. Proper documentation of the patient’s medical condition and clinical response to treatment provides a strong foundation for establishing optimal patient care.
Approved: February 12, 2002