NC S69

Requires practitioners issuing prescriptions for opioid pain medications to educate patients about the potential dangers of opioids, overdose prevention, and the availability of FDA-approved opioid antagonists to reverse opioid-induced respiratory depression.

Requires practitioners to provide this education to designated persons for the patient or to parents/guardians for minor patients.

Requires pharmacists dispensing opioid pain medications to ask if the patient has an opioid antagonist prescription and offer to fill it, or offer to dispense an opioid antagonist under existing state law or statewide standing order if the patient does not have a prescription.

Requires pharmacists to provide the same patient education information about opioid dangers, overdose prevention, and opioid antagonist availability.

Clarifies the act does not create a private right of action against practitioners for non-compliance and does not limit practitioner liability for negligent diagnosis or treatment; effective October 1, 2023.