Help finding laws that require a drug test for tramadol prescription

Factual Questions
1

Neither my rheumatologist nor physicians at pain centers can tell me the title or name of laws that require drug tests to receive a tramadol prescription.

What should I google to find the titles of federal and Arkansas laws that require a drug test ?

The best I have found is that DOT(!) requires drug test to receive title II and title III drugs. Tramadol is described in different links as title IV and title V. Perhaps a less potent drug like tramadol is not mandated for a test in the laws no one knows.

These monthly visits to a pain center and random tests cost me and others a lot of money. One of the pain centers certainly runs a racket. I twice waited an hour past my appointment time, peed in a cup and after waiting fifteen minutes, wandered around the building to find someone who would take it. A brief interview with a physician who obviously had no interest in my situation and I was sent on my merry way.

2

My late wife was a cancer patient in FL from 2014-2021.

There was never any kind of drug testing required for any of her opioid scrips. Of which tramadol was the baby aspirin-level stuff.

So at least as of then, there was no such federal requirement. I can’t speak to Arkansas.

3

I have a script for tramadol for back pain, from April. No test. It’s only Schedule IV.

Oxycodone is Schedule II and even it didn’t require a drug test last week.

I’m in Washington state, not in Arkansas. But I’d be shocked if either one legally required a drug test in Arkansas.

4

There’s no law. That’s your pain center making arbitrary rules.

They may feel they have a mandate, but they don’t. But peeps will do the pee test to be able to get their pain meds.

(You probably signed a patient/doctor agreement to do the testing)

5

Are you sure this isn’t just a standard blood test to determine levels of various things in your blood before prescribing a new drug? They need a baseline before they give you anything. That is probably all it is. If you are actually using something, they need to know that too.

6

Yes. The Law No One Can Name requires “random testing”, twice a year by one pain management outfit, three times by another that is cashing in more, to be certain that I am not lying on the floor writhing in pain and selling the tramadol on the street. There is also an initial test as you describe.

Do any of you Google Masters have suggestions as to what I should search for?

7

I believe there is indeed a law, for my rheumatologist insisted that I see a pain management outfit. They have been reputable in the past, and as far as I know do not receive any kickback.

8

In Oregon, I wasn’t required to have random drug testing for Tramadol when I had cancer-related surgeries. I haven’t heard anyone there or my online cancer group back in the day mention it.

9

Arkansas has statutes governing pain management, I just found this by googling:

Arkansas Code of 1987 (2024)

Title 20 - PUBLIC HEALTH AND WELFARE
Subtitle 2 - HEALTH AND SAFETY
Chapter 7 - STATE BOARD OF HEALTH - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
Subchapter 7 - COMBATING PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE ACT

Section 20-7-706 - Patient evaluation
A patient who is being treated with controlled substances for chronic nonmalignant pain shall be evaluated at least one (1) time every six (6) months by a physician who is licensed by the Arkansas State Medical Board.

AR Code § 20-7-707

  • (a) For a patient with chronic nonmalignant pain, a prescriber, at a minimum and in addition to any additional requirements of the appropriate licensing board, shall:

    • (1) Check the prescriptive history of the patient on the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program at least every six (6) months; and

    • (2) Have a signed pain contract with the patient that states, at a minimum, the expectations of the prescriber for the behavior of the patient which may include:

      • (A) A requirement for random urine drug screenings to help ensure that the patient is abiding by the requirements of the contract; and

      • (B) A requirement for random pill counts to ensure compliance with the prescription.

  • (b) The requirements of this section shall not apply to a patient:

    • (1) Whose pain medications are being prescribed for a malignant condition;

    • (2) With a terminal condition;

    • (3) Who is a resident of a licensed healthcare facility;

    • (4) Who is enrolled in a hospice program; or

    • (5) Who is in an inpatient or outpatient palliative care program.

10

Thanks, Moriaty. I have to see these jokers every month for them to renew my prescription.

One of the providers did say the unknown law was Federal, so I presume there are at least two laws involved.