House Bill 451, Nonopioid Alternatives, was approved by Governor DeSantis and is effective July 1, 2019. The bill requires that before providing anesthesia or prescribing, ordering, dispensing, or administering an opioid listed as a Schedule II controlled substance to treat pain, the patient must be informed about available nonopioid alternatives. A healthcare practitioner will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of using nonopioid alternatives. Under the new law, the department is required to develop an educational pamphlet about using nonopioid alternatives and post the pamphlet on the department’s website. Healthcare practitioners must provide the patient with this educational pamphlet. Those healthcare practitioners providing emergency services and care are exempt from these requirements.

Click here for pamphlets and additional information.