AS 08.36.355: Maximum dosage for opioid prescriptions.

(a) A licensee may not issue

(1) an initial prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult patient for outpatient use;

(2) a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to a minor; at the time a licensee writes a prescription for an opioid for a minor, the licensee shall discuss with the parent or guardian of the minor why the prescription is necessary and the risks associated with opioid use.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a licensee may issue a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult or minor patient if, in the professional judgment of the licensee, more than a seven-day supply of an opioid is necessary for

(1) the patient's chronic pain management; the licensee may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient's medical condition or chronic pain; the licensee shall document in the patient's medical record the condition triggering the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition; or

(2) a patient who is unable to access a practitioner within the time necessary for a refill of the seven-day supply because of a logistical or travel barrier; the licensee may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient for the time that the patient is unable to access a practitioner; the licensee shall document in the patient's medical record the reason for the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition; in this paragraph, “practitioner” has the meaning given in AS 11.71.900.

(c) In this section,

(1) “adult” means

(A) an individual who has reached 18 years of age; or

(B) an emancipated minor;

(2) “emancipated minor” means a minor whose disabilities have been removed for general purposes under AS 09.55.590;

(3) “minor” means an individual under 18 years of age who is not an emancipated minor.