PORTLAND, Maine - Revised rules on the state's new opioid prescription law are due in the next few days - and Maine veterinarians are looking for some changes.
The law sets limits on opioid prescriptions, and it requires vets to check the state's database of prescription records for owners - or whoever brings an animal into the office - before prescribing opioids for a pet.
Amanda Bisol is legislative chair of the Maine Veterinary Medical Association, and a veterinarian. She says vets in Maine are happy to help, but there's a problem with the rule.
"The prescriptions are actually extremely different for a lot of these medications between people and pets," Bisol says, "so basically we're looking up this information and we really have no idea what we're supposed to do with it."
Doses for animals tend to be much smaller than those for humans. Bisol says another issue is that there's no system for vets to enter pets' prescriptions in the database - that means drug-seeking humans could theoretically doctor shop at the vet's office.
And she says many vets are just uncomfortable having information about owners' prescriptions.
The association is looking for clarification on vets' responsibilities under the new rules. Bisol says there are also liability issues that need to be resolved.
