Query of Controlled Substance Data Base About to Become Mandatory

The North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System (NC CSRS) collects and makes available information on dispensed controlled substance prescriptions. Prescribers and dispensers can query the system before deciding whether to prescribe or dispense a controlled substance. Under the Strengthen Opioid Misuse Prevention Act of 2017 or STOP Act, querying NC CSRS will become mandatory when certain technical upgrades are made. NCDHHS has told the North Carolina Medical Board those upgrades are nearly complete, so querying will be mandatory soon. Prescribers will be required to query the patient’s NC CSRS history for the preceding twelve month prior to initiating a Schedule II or III opioid or narcotic and every three months thereafter if the drug remains part of the patient’s care. The result of the query must be documented in the patient’s medical record. Dispensers have similar responsibilities. Failure to query could result in disciplinary action. NCDHHS has told the Medical Board that 24,000 prescriptions recently were written without querying the NC CSRS. The Medical Board website has good information for prescriber about NC CSRS, the Pharmacy Board has good information for dispensers, and more information is expected from the Boards and NCDHHS soon. Prescribers and dispensers should register and use NC CSRS as soon as possible, if they are not already.