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Alberta doctors who prescribe opioids and other high-risk medications will soon be required to exercise more caution.

New professional rules designed to reduce addictions and drug misuse come into effect April 1, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta said Friday.

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“Putting more checks and balances in place for these drugs will help patients and our members,” college registrar Dr. Trevor Theman said in a news release. “These drugs pose a significant health risk and physicians need to ensure they are prescribing responsibly.”

The changes will require doctors to adhere to a stricter process when providing patients with opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, sedatives and other medications with the potential for misuse.

Included are requirements to justify prescribing decisions with documentary evidence, and to review each patient’s medication history from Netcare, the Pharmaceutical Information Network or some other source.