RCW 69.50.317
Opioid drugs—Communication with patient.
(1) Any practitioner who writes the first prescription for an opioid during the course of treatment to any patient must, under professional rules, discuss the following with the patient:
(a) The risks of opioids, including risk of dependence and overdose;
(b) Pain management alternatives to opioids, including nonopioid pharmacological treatments, and nonpharmacological treatments available to the patient, at the discretion of the practitioner and based on the medical condition of the patient; and
(c) A written copy of the warning language provided by the department under RCW 43.70.765.
(2) If the patient is under eighteen years old or does not have the capacity to make a health care decision, the discussion required by subsection (1) of this section must include the patient's parent, guardian, or the person identified in RCW 7.70.065, unless otherwise provided by law.
(3) The practitioner shall document completion of the requirements in subsection (1) of this section in the patient's health care record.
(4) To fulfill the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, a practitioner may designate any individual who holds a credential issued by a disciplining authority under RCW 18.130.040 to conduct the discussion.
(5) Violation of this section constitutes unprofessional conduct under chapter 18.130 RCW.
(6) This section does not apply to:
(a) Opioid prescriptions issued for the treatment of pain associated with terminal cancer or other terminal diseases, or for palliative, hospice, or other end-of-life care of where the practitioner determines the health, well-being, or care of the patient would be compromised by the requirements of this section and documents such basis for the determination in the patient's health care record; or
(b) Administration of an opioid in an inpatient or outpatient treatment setting.
(7) This section does not apply to practitioners licensed under chapter 18.92 RCW.
(8) The department shall review this section by March 31, 2026, and report to the appropriate committees of the legislature on whether this section should be retained, repealed, or amended.
[ 2021 c 270 § 4; 2019 c 314 § 17.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2021 c 270: See note following RCW 7.70.065.
Declaration—2019 c 314: See note following RCW 18.22.810.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Title 69 - Food, Drugs, Cosmetics, and Poisons
Chapter 69.50 - Uniform Controlled Substances Act.
69.50.102 - Drug paraphernalia—Definitions.
69.50.201 - Enforcement of chapter—Authority to change schedules of controlled substances.
69.50.205 - Schedule II tests.
69.50.207 - Schedule III tests.
69.50.209 - Schedule IV tests.
69.50.213 - Republishing of schedules.
69.50.214 - Controlled substance analog.
69.50.302 - Registration requirements.
69.50.305 - Procedure for denial, suspension, or revocation of registration.
69.50.306 - Records of registrants.
69.50.311 - Triplicate prescription form program—Compliance by health care practitioners.
69.50.315 - Medical assistance—Drug-related overdose—Prosecution for possession.
69.50.317 - Opioid drugs—Communication with patient.
69.50.325 - Cannabis producer's license, cannabis processor's license, cannabis retailer's license.
69.50.327 - Cannabis processors—Incorporation of characterizing flavor in vapor products.
69.50.331 - Application for license.
69.50.334 - Denial of application—Opportunity for hearing.
69.50.335 - Cannabis retailer licenses—Social equity applicants—Rules—Definitions.
69.50.336 - Social equity in cannabis task force.
69.50.342 - State liquor and cannabis board—Rules.
69.50.345 - State liquor and cannabis board—Rules—Procedures and criteria.
69.50.346 - Labels on retail products.
69.50.348 - Representative samples of cannabis, useable cannabis, or cannabis-infused products.
69.50.351 - Board members and employees—Conflict of interest.
69.50.354 - Retail outlet licenses.
69.50.357 - Retail outlets—Rules.
69.50.363 - Cannabis processors, employees—Certain acts not criminal or civil offenses.
69.50.366 - Cannabis producers, employees—Certain acts not criminal or civil offenses.
69.50.369 - Cannabis producers, processors, researchers, retailers—Advertisements—Rules—Penalty.
69.50.372 - Cannabis research license.
69.50.375 - Cannabis retailers—Medical cannabis endorsement.
69.50.378 - Cannabis retailer holding medical cannabis endorsement—THC concentration in products.
69.50.385 - Common carriers—Licensing—State liquor and cannabis board to adopt rules.
69.50.395 - Licensed cannabis businesses, agreements—Disclosure to state liquor and cannabis board.
69.50.401 - Prohibited acts: A—Penalties.
69.50.4011 - Counterfeit substances—Penalties.
69.50.4012 - Delivery of substance in lieu of controlled substance—Penalty.
69.50.4014 - Possession of forty grams or less of cannabis—Penalty.
69.50.4015 - Involving a person under eighteen in unlawful controlled substance transaction—Penalty.
69.50.4016 - Provisions not applicable to offenses under RCW 69.50.410.
69.50.402 - Prohibited acts: B—Penalties.
69.50.403 - Prohibited acts: C—Penalties.
69.50.404 - Penalties under other laws.
69.50.405 - Bar to prosecution.
69.50.406 - Distribution to persons under age eighteen.
69.50.408 - Second or subsequent offenses.
69.50.410 - Prohibited acts: D—Penalties.
69.50.412 - Prohibited acts: E—Penalties.
69.50.4121 - Drug paraphernalia—Selling or giving—Penalty.
69.50.413 - Health care practitioners—Suspension of license for violation of chapter.
69.50.414 - Sale or transfer of controlled substance to minor—Cause of action by parent—Damages.
69.50.415 - Controlled substances homicide—Penalty.
69.50.416 - Counterfeit substances prohibited—Penalties.
69.50.420 - Violations—Juvenile driving privileges.
69.50.430 - Additional fine for certain felony violations.
69.50.438 - Cathinone or methcathinone—Additional fine.
69.50.440 - Possession with intent to manufacture—Penalty.
69.50.450 - Butane or other explosive gases.
69.50.455 - Synthetic cannabinoids—Unfair or deceptive practice under RCW 19.86.020.
69.50.460 - Cathinone or methcathinone—Unfair or deceptive practice under RCW 19.86.020.
69.50.465 - Conducting or maintaining cannabis club—Penalty.
69.50.470 - Medication disposal, no penalty for compliance.
69.50.475 - Cannabis retail outlets—Sale to persons under the age of twenty-one—Penalty.
69.50.500 - Powers of enforcement personnel.
69.50.501 - Administrative inspections.
69.50.502 - Warrants for administrative inspections.
69.50.504 - Cooperative arrangements.
69.50.505 - Seizure and forfeiture.
69.50.506 - Burden of proof; liabilities.
69.50.508 - Education and research.
69.50.509 - Search and seizure of controlled substances.
69.50.510 - Search and seizure at rental premises—Notification of landlord.
69.50.511 - Cleanup of hazardous substances at illegal drug manufacturing facility—Rules.
69.50.515 - Pharmacies—Cannabis—Notification and disposal.
69.50.525 - Diversion prevention and control—Report.
69.50.530 - Dedicated cannabis account (as amended by 2022 c 16).
69.50.540 - Dedicated cannabis account—Appropriations (as amended by 2022 c 16).
69.50.550 - Cost-benefit evaluations.
69.50.561 - Advice and consultation services—Licensed cannabis businesses.
69.50.563 - Licensed cannabis businesses—Civil penalty—Rules.
69.50.564 - Licensed cannabis businesses—Settlement agreement.
69.50.570 - Bundled transactions—Retail sales—Subject to tax—Exception.
69.50.575 - Cannabis health and beauty aids.
69.50.585 - Branded promotional items—Nominal value—Personal services.
69.50.587 - Cannabis science task force reports—Board rules.
69.50.601 - Pending proceedings.
69.50.602 - Continuation of rules.
69.50.603 - Uniformity of interpretation.