Mandatory Reporting of Overdoses – SB 43

Effective September 1, 1999, Senate Bill 43, 76th Texas Legislature, required mandatory reporting of overdoses of controlled substances in Penalty Group 1 of the Texas Controlled Substances Act to the Texas Department of Health, now the Department of State Health Services (DSHS). The Texas Poison Center Network (TPCN) was determined to be the mechanism for collecting the data and reporting it to DSHS

Hospitals and attending Physicians report drug overdoses within 24 hours by calling the Texas Poison Center Network at 1-800-222-1222 or by accessing the online reporting .

DISCLOSURE OF THE PATIENT’S IDENTITY IS PROHIBITED

The report may be made by either:

• the physician who attends or treats a patient with an overdose of a controlled substance listed in Penalty Group 1, or
• the administrator, superintendent, or other person in charge of a hospital, sanitarium or other treating institution.

The Texas Poison Center Network has complied with this mandate since 1999.