In collaboration with author Scott Fishman, M.D., medical writer Stephen Braun and publisher Waterford Life Sciences, the FSMB Research and Education Foundation has developed a book on responsible opioid prescribing based on the FSMB Model Policy for Prescribing Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain. The Foundation plans to distribute the book through individual state medical boards to the approximately 750,000 licensed physicians in the United States.

The book, entitled Responsible Opioid Prescribing: A Physician's Guide, translates the FSMB's consensus guidelines into office-based pain management. It includes pragmatic implementation strategies to reduce the risk of addiction, abuse and diversion, and reviews patient education and monitoring in an office-based practice.

A blue-ribbon advisory board - thought leaders in pain medicine, representatives of relevant nonprofits, and representatives of relevant state and national government regulatory agencies - supervised development of the manuscript. The resulting book addresses the issues of prescription drug abuse and under-treatment of pain and, as a result, has been embraced by both the medical profession and regulatory community.

Working in collaboration with the author, writer and publisher, the Foundation will distribute print copies of the book to physicians on a state-by-state basis, as funds are raised. The handbooks can be customized to include state-specific policies, rules and regulations, and statutes.

Responsible Opioid Prescribing offers physicians effective strategies for reducing the risk of addiction, abuse and diversion of opioids that they prescribe for their patients in pain. Written by pain medicine specialist Scott M. Fishman, M.D., this concise handbook translates the Federation of State Medical Board's Model Policy for the Use of Controlled Substances for the Treatment of Pain into pragmatic steps for risk reduction and improved patient care, including:

• Patient evaluation, including risk assessment
• Patient evaluation, including risk assessment
• Informed consent and prescribing agreements
• Periodic review and monitoring of patients
• Referral and patient management
• Documentation
• Compliance with state and federal law