Section 170.2 - DefinitionsIn this Chapter:
(1) "Abuse" or "substance abuse"--the essential feature of substance abuse is a maladaptive pattern of substance use manifested by recurrent and significant adverse consequences related to the repeated use of substances.(2) "Acute pain"--the normal, predicted, physiological response to a stimulus such as trauma, disease, and operative procedures. Acute pain is time limited to no later than 30 days from the date of the initial prescription for opioids during a period of treatment related to the acute condition or injury. The term does not include: (B) pain being treated as part of cancer care;(C) pain being treated as part of hospice or other end-of-life care;(D) pain being treated as part of palliative care; or(E) post-surgical, post-procedure, or persistent non-chronic pain.(3) "Addiction"--a primary, chronic, neurobiological disease characterized by craving and compulsive use of drugs. Addiction is often characterized by impaired control over drug use, including taking more drugs more often than prescribed by a physician. It may also be characterized by continued use despite harm to oneself or others. Genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors may influence the development and manifestation of addiction. Physical dependence and tolerance are normal physiological consequences of extended drug therapy for pain and, alone, do not indicate addiction.(4) "Chronic pain"--pain that is not relieved with acute, post-surgical, post-procedure, or persistent non-chronic pain treatment parameters and persists beyond the usual course of an acute condition typically caused by, or resembling that caused by, actual or potential tissue injury or trauma, disease process, or operative procedure or the healing or recovery of such condition with or without treatment. This type of pain is associated with a chronic pathological process that causes continuous or intermittent pain for no less than 91 days from the date of the initial prescription for opioids.(5) "Dangerous drugs"--medications defined by the Texas Dangerous Drug Act, Chapter 483, Texas Health and Safety Code. Dangerous drugs require a prescription, but are not included in the list of scheduled drugs. A dangerous drug bears the legend "Caution: federal law prohibits dispensing without a prescription" or "Prescription Only."(6) "Diversion"--the use of drugs by anyone other than the person for whom the drug was prescribed.(7) "Escalation"--increasing the dosage and/or frequency of the use of drugs.(8) "Pain"--an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage or described in terms of such damage.(9) "Physical dependence"--a state of adaptation that is manifested by drug class-specific signs and symptoms that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist. Physical dependence, alone, does not indicate addiction.(10) Post-surgical, post-procedure, persistent non-chronic pain--pain that occurs due to trauma caused by the surgery or procedure; or an underlying condition, disease, or injury causing persistent non-chronic pain. These types of pain are treated in accordance with the standard of care and last 90 days or less, but more than 30 days, from the date of initial prescriptions for opioids during a period of treatment.(11) "Pseudoaddiction"--the iatrogenic syndrome resulting from the misinterpretation of relief seeking behaviors as though they are drug-seeking behaviors that are commonly seen with addiction. The relief seeking behaviors resolve upon institution of effective analgesic therapy.(12) "Scheduled drugs" (sometimes referred to as "Controlled Substances")--medications defined by the Texas Controlled Substances Act, Chapter 481, Texas Health and Safety Code. This Act establishes five categories, or schedules of drugs, based on risk of abuse and addiction. (Schedule I includes drugs that carry an extremely high risk of abuse and addiction and have no legitimate medical use. Schedule V includes drugs that have the lowest abuse/addiction risk).(13) "Tolerance" (tachyphylaxis)--a physiological state resulting from regular use of a drug in which an increased dosage is needed to produce a specific effect, or a reduced effect is observed with a constant dose over time. Tolerance does not necessarily occur during opioid treatment and does not, alone, indicate addiction.(14) "Withdrawal"--the physiological and mental readjustment that accompanies discontinuation of a drug for which a person has established a physical dependence.22 Tex. Admin. Code § 170.2
The provisions of this §170.2 adopted to be effective January 4, 2007, 31 TexReg 10798; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 40, Number 31, July 31, 2015, TexReg 4898, eff. 8/4/2015; Amended by Texas Register, Volume 45, Number 28, July 10, 2020, TexReg 4750, eff. 7/13/2020