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Controlled Substance Abuse Prevention Act (Assembly Bill 474)


Opioid abuse in Nevada

The Nevada Opioid Surveillance report, published by the DHHS Office of Analytics, contains a great deal of information about opioid-related poisonings, hospitalizations, emergency room visits and deaths.

Permanent Regulations

The Nevada State Board of Health has approved final regulations to implement the provisions of Assembly Bill 474, the Controlled Substance Abuse Prevention Act. The regulations now lay out procedures for reporting cases or suspected cases of drug overdose to the Chief Medical Officer.

These final regulations:

  • Establish definitions for “overdose” and “patient discharge”
  • Establish information required for mandatory reporting by certain health care professionals of overdose or suspected overdose incidents.
  • Establish required time frame and submission methods for the reports of overdose or suspected overdose incident.
  • Establish requirements for certain medical facilities to establish policies related to reporting overdose or suspected overdose incidents.
  • Establish requirement for the State Chief Medical Officer to establish procedures to track and report statewide information related to overdose or suspected overdose incidents.
  • Methods for submitting overdose reports:
    • Clarity web-based reporting is a more convenient and user-friendly submission method that allows providers to quickly and securely complete the elements of mandatory reporting. Providers wishing to establish a Clarity account can contact Devin Gamboa at (775) 687-9040 or emailing
    • dgamboa@health.nv.gov
    • Fax reporting to the Division of Public and Behavioral Health at (775) 684-5999.
    • Electronic batch reporting, more information can be found in the FAQ below.
  • Additional reporting information is below:

AB 474 background

Controlled substances for the treatment of pain can be highly effective and medically necessary HOWEVER, the current opioid epidemic and overdose rates associated with prescription drug abuse, misuse and diversion underscores that such medications are not without inherent risks.

During the 2017 session, the Nevada Legislature passed AB 474, the Controlled Substance Abuse Prevention Act. This legislation does not tell prescribers when or how they can prescribe. It simply establishes a standard of care for prescribers so that, if prescribing such medications is clinically indicated, the prescriber and patient have the needed information to move forward with that prescription with some degree of confidence that the benefits outweigh the risks.

The Controlled Substance Abuse Prevention Act:

  • Prioritizes patient safety and responsibility
  • Preserves clinical decision-making
  • Promotes the patient-prescriber relationship
  • Reduces the amount of inappropriate prescribing
  • Prevents addiction to prescription drugs through monitoring and mitigating risk
  • Enhances the quality of care for patients with acute and chronic pain
  • Avoids the legislation of the practice of medicine by establishing a standard of care

AB 474 FAQ

Click the link below for a document answering many questions about the details of Nevada Assembly Bill 474.

All information provided in this FAQ is provided for informational purposes only. Although every reasonable effort is made to present current and accurate information, the Department of Health and Human Services make no guarantees of any kind and cannot be held responsible or liable for any outdated or incorrect information. The information contained herein is not provided in the course of and does not create or constitute an attorney-client relationship, is not intended to convey or constitute legal or regulatory advice, an interpretation of law, an advisory opinion or rulemaking of any kind, and is neither a substitute for nor does it release you from the professional responsibility to review all the applicable law and, if necessary, obtain legal advice from a qualified attorney.

Please do not act upon or rely on any such information without first seeking qualified professional counsel on your specific matter. The practice of medicine is highly complex and necessarily involves the interpretation and application of numerous statutes and regulations on a circumstantial basis. Accordingly, professional decisions should not be based solely upon these FAQs or other website communications.

Health-related topics and legal information found herein should not be used for diagnosing purposes or be substituted for medical advice or legal advice. It is your responsibility to research the accuracy, completeness and usefulness of all opinions, services, and other information found on the site. The Department of Health and Human Services assumes no responsibility or liability for any consequence resulting directly or indirectly for any action or inaction taken based on or made in reliance on the information, services, or material on this or any sponsor page or affiliate site.

    Videos about Opioid Misuse in Nevada

    The Nevada Department of Health and Human Services has created documentary videos and public service announcements to inform citizens about the dangers of opioid misuse. Some of these videos feature stories from Nevadans who have struggled with opioid misuse or had family or friends who have suffered the effects of addiction - including accidental death. These messages are the result of a collaboration with Reno-based Three Sticks Production and the Nevada Broadcasters Association, whose efforts are a service to the residents of Nevada and a testament to the hope that can be found in treatment and recovery.


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