{"data":{"id":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-90-113.71","jurisdiction":"us-nc","citation":"N.C. Gen. Stat. § 90-113.71","heading":"Legislative findings and purpose.","body":"(a)\tThe General Assembly makes the following findings:\n(1)\tNorth Carolina is experiencing an epidemic of poisoning deaths from unintentional drug overdoses.\n(2)\tSince 1997, the number of deaths from unintentional drug overdoses has increased threefold, from 228 deaths in 1997 to 690 deaths in 2003.\n(3)\tThe number of unintentional deaths from illicit drugs in North Carolina has decreased since 1992 while unintentional deaths from licit drugs, primarily prescriptions, have increased.\n(4)\tLicit drugs are now responsible for over half of the fatal unintentional poisonings in North Carolina.\n(5)\tOver half of the prescription drugs associated with unintentional deaths are narcotics (opioids).\n(6)\tOf these licit drugs, deaths from methadone, usually prescribed as an analgesic for severe pain, have increased sevenfold since 1997.\n(7)\tMethadone from opioid treatment program clinics is a negligible source of the methadone that has contributed to the dramatic increase in unintentional methadone-related deaths in North Carolina.\n(8)\tReview of the experience of the 19 states that have active controlled substances reporting systems clearly documents that implementation of these reporting systems do not create a \"chilling\" effect on prescribing.\n(9)\tReview of data from controlled substances reporting systems help:\na.\tSupport the legitimate medical use of controlled substances.\nb.\tIdentify and prevent diversion of prescribed controlled substances.\nc.\tReduce morbidity and mortality from unintentional drug overdoses.\nd.\tReduce the costs associated with the misuse and abuse of controlled substances.\ne.\tAssist clinicians in identifying and referring for treatment patients misusing controlled substances.\nf.\tReduce the cost for law enforcement of investigating cases of diversion and misuse.\ng.\tInform the public, including health care professionals, of the use and abuse trends related to prescription drugs.\n(b)\tThis Article is intended to improve the State's ability to identify controlled substance abusers or misusers and refer them for treatment, and to identify and stop diversion of prescription drugs in an efficient and cost-effective manner that will not impede the appropriate medical utilization of licit controlled substances. (2005-276, s. 10.36(a).)","path":["Chapter 90. Medicine and Allied Occupations.","Article 5E. North Carolina Controlled Substances Reporting System Act."],"source_url":"https://www.ncleg.gov/EnactedLegislation/Statutes/HTML/BySection/Chapter_90/GS_90-113.71.html","current_through":"S.L. 2026-30","vintage":"","retrieved_at":"2026-08-27T18:12:48Z","sha256":"031667ea3522e0a99e895cbe57b43d02a5572dc3a37a3a9775d51f3e17df83e3","source_id":"us-nc","stale":false,"prev":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-90-113.70","next":"us-nc/n.c.-gen.-stat.-90-113.72"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}