Prescribe with Care – A GDA Initiative
GDA is Working to be Part of the Solution to the Opioid Crisis

GDA is actively engaged in addressing the opioid abuse problem in Georgia
The GDA Prescribe with Care initiative was introduced in 2018 to help fight opioid abuse
Components of the program include education, collaboration and administrative rule making

Education

Presented statewide continuing education course for dentists on Georgia's new opioid prescriber requirements, which went into effect January 1, 2018
Established a continuing education course on safe and effective opioid prescribing for dental pain with multiple formats
Continuing to educate member dentists on opioid prescribing through webinars, articles in GDA Action magazine and other communications
Making educational resources available to dental patients and the public
Informing GDA members about the ADA’s Policy on Opioid Prescribing which lays out newrecommendations, rules and guidelines for dentists in Georgia and across the country
Providing resources for our members to use in conjunction with safe prescribing
Endorsing the ADA’s Statement on the Use of Opioids in the Treatment of Dental Pain

Collaboration

Collaborating with healthcare professionals, policy makers and the public by serving on opioid task forces
- Attorney General Chris Carr's Statewide Opioid Task Force
- Medical Association of Georgia's Opioid Task Force
- Department of Public Health’s PDMP Working Group
Partnering with the Georgia Department of Public Health to monitor Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) registration numbers and assisting our members to register and use the PDMP
Working with the Georgia Board of Dentistry to increase awareness of registration requirements among all Georgia licensed dentists

Administrative Rule Making

Worked in conjunction with the Georgia Board of Dentistry to create a continuing education requirement as a component of licensure renewal on the prescribing of opioids, which is effective for the 2019 license renewal year

GDA members have access to a patient handout regarding safe practices around opioid use.