States have implemented many different strategies to address opioid use disorder/substance use disorders (OUD/SUD) and promote safe prescribing practices. One of these strategies is maintaining prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) to inform clinical decisions and help support referrals to OUD/SUD treatment. PDMPs serve as information tools for many providers and public health and safety professionals who use the data to address OUD/SUD through improved clinical decision making, enhanced public health interventions, and faster detection of prescription fraud and diversion.

The National Governors Association developed a toolkit to highlight state practices in PDMP policy and identify opportunities to improve access and ease of use by health care providers. The toolkit includes a series of 10 considerations, highlighting different approaches states have taken to implement those strategies. In producing this toolkit, the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) consulted with national and state experts, including through a virtual roundtable on March 31, 2020, that was largely comprised of state officials, to discuss how states have used their PDMPs as part of broader strategies to address OUD/SUD.

Because PDMPs are already widely adopted and utilized among states and providers, the considerations in this toolkit reflect opportunities for state leaders to share best practices and make enhancements to advance functionality and improve utilization as part of a broader data-driven approach to promote the health and wellbeing of state residents. It also serves as a primer for individuals interested in learning about how PDMPs can advance initiatives to address OUD/SUD.