Opioid Prescribing Resources

After being approved by the Joint Legislative Committee on Administrative Rules (JLCAR), the New Hampshire Board of Medicine (BoM) adopted on November 2, 2016, final rules for opioid prescribing for the management or treatment of non-cancer and non-terminal pain, as well as requirements to use the state prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) based on the adoption of HB 1423 in late June. See below for more important information.

In effect January 1, 2017, the new BoM rules apply to initial Schedule II, III and IV opioid prescriptions that are self-administered by an individual patient for the management or treatment of pain. Excluded from the new rule is the supervised administration of opioids in a health care setting.

Please click on a link for more information:

• Board of Medicine Med 502 Opioid Prescribing Rules (adopted 8-4-2021)
• Opioid Prescribing Rules FAQs
• NHMS Overview on Opioid Prescribing Rules – November 2016
• Sample Opioid Patient Checklist for use with Med 502 Opioid Prescribing Rules (pdf) and Word version
• NHMS Resolution on Implementation of NH Opioid Prescribing Rules – November, 2016

This resource focuses on the treatment of chronic non-terminal pain; however, clinicians may also find the principles, tools and other cited resources helpful for the management of acute pain and pain associated with terminal illness.

Evidence is evolving related to the best practices in opioid therapy of chronic pain. This resource guide is a product of a clinical consensus process with integration of available evidence by a task force of the New Hampshire Medical Society*. It draws on the 2009 American Pain Society/American Academy of Pain Medicine Guidelines on the Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Chronic Pain.

The resource is offered with the understanding that appropriate medical practice must be determined in a specific clinical context, based on clinical options reasonably available and the judgment of the clinician and the preferences of the patient.

NHMS provides links for informational purposes, but cannot assure the quality of services or accuracy or scientific validity of information provided by the link; judgment and care are advised in using the linked content. We would appreciate feedback on broken, inaccurate or unhelpful links and suggestions for alternatives or additions. Contact nhmedicalsociety@nhms.org. 

To learn more, click on a title for more information and links.