Waltham, MA, February 25, 2026―The Workers Compensation Research Institute (WCRI) today released a comprehensive new report that brings together, in one place, the wide range of state regulations affecting prescription drugs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

“States take very different approaches to regulating prescription drugs, especially controlled substances, and these efforts often involve multiple agencies,” said Ramona Tanabe, WCRI’s president and CEO. “This report gives policymakers and system stakeholders a clear overview of state strategies and directs them to the relevant regulations for more detail.”

The report, Workers’ Compensation Prescription Drug Regulations: A National Inventory, 2026, highlights key prescription drug issues shaping state policy discussions, including:

  • Medical marijuana regulations
  • Rules for limiting and monitoring opioid prescriptions
  • Expanded roles for pharmacists in patient care
  • Pharmacy benefit manager regulations
  • Workers’ compensation drug formularies
  • Price regulations for pharmacy‑ and physician‑dispensed drugs
  • Prescription drug monitoring programs

To develop the inventory, WCRI surveyed two agencies in each state and the District of Columbia. Because prescription drug regulations continue to evolve rapidly, the report provides a snapshot as of January 1, 2026.

The report was authored by Karen Rothkin and Terence Cawley. To learn more or purchase a copy, visit www.wcrinet.org.