(a) A licensee may not issue

(1) an initial prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult patient for outpatient use;

(2) a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to a minor; at the time a licensee writes a prescription for an opioid for a minor, the licensee shall discuss with the parent or guardian of the minor why the prescription is necessary and the risks associated with opioid use.

(b) Notwithstanding (a) of this section, a licensee may issue a prescription for an opioid that exceeds a seven-day supply to an adult or minor patient if, in the professional medical judgment of the licensee, more than a seven-day supply of an opioid is necessary for

(1) the patient's acute medical condition, chronic pain management, pain associated with cancer, or pain experienced while the patient is in palliative care; the licensee may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient's medical condition, chronic pain, pain associated with cancer, or pain experienced while the patient is in palliative care; the licensee shall document in the patient's medical record the condition triggering the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition;

(2) a patient who is unable to access a practitioner within the time necessary for a refill of the seven-day supply because of a logistical or travel barrier; the licensee may write a prescription for an opioid for the quantity needed to treat the patient for the time that the patient is unable to access a practitioner; the licensee shall document in the patient's medical record the reason for the prescription of an opioid in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate to address the medical condition; in this paragraph, “practitioner” has the meaning given in AS 11.71.900; or

(3) the treatment of a patient's substance abuse or opioid dependence; the licensee may write a prescription for an opioid approved for the treatment of substance abuse or opioid dependence for the quantity needed to treat the patient's substance abuse or opioid dependence; the licensee shall document in the patient's medical record the reason for the prescription of an opioid approved for the treatment of substance abuse or opioid dependence in a quantity that exceeds a seven-day supply and indicate that a nonopioid alternative was not appropriate for the treatment of substance abuse or opioid dependence.

(c) In this section,

(1) “adult” means

(A) an individual who has reached 18 years of age; or

(B) an emancipated minor;

(2) “emancipated minor” means a minor whose disabilities have been removed for general purposes under AS 09.55.590;

(3) “minor” means an individual under 18 years of age who is not an emancipated minor.