The prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) throughout the country are probably the single most innovative help in years to law enforcement trying to deal with pharmaceutical diversion issues. Although some of the states’ systems are not as friendly to law enforcement access, those that are provide a wealth of easily accessible information for potential prosecutions. [Read more…]
Is ED Prescribing Our #1 Abuse Problem?
A recent 2-day conference in Ohio prompted Governor John R. Kasich to announce an agreement that had been made with the state’s major medical associations to limit prescribing of controlled substances in the emergency department (ED). These guidelines would be just that—guidelines—but they were meant to reduce the prescribing of controlled substances by ED physicians.
“We’re not giving you this stuff (painkillers) willy-nilly anymore,” said Governor Kasich during his oration to the audience and press. This agreement is part of Ohio’s push to reduce prescription drug overdose deaths, something that occurs every day to at least 4 Ohio residents who die of an unintended prescription drug overdose. [Read more…]
Learning from the Addiction-Related Deaths of Celebrities
Once again, a noted celebrity—Whitney Houston—has passed away tragically, seemingly due to substance abuse. Benzodiazepines and alcohol were report- edly found in Houston’s hotel room— drugs that create a deadly combination, especially if taken in large amounts.
Whitney Houston needs no introduc- tion, as she was arguably one of the greatest female singers of all time. In my opinion, she has a place in the top 3 with Barbara Streisand and Celine Dion. She possessed the God-given gift of an incredible voice in tandem with equally incredible good looks. [Read more…]
Showing Identification at the Pharmacy Counter
I knew before I wrote this article that some of you would oppose the idea of requiring individuals picking up controlled substance prescriptions to show photo identification (ID). This would require additional labor of an already labor-burdened profession, and some of you are probably reluctant to act as a cop when you signed on to be a pharmacist!
I understand, and actually sympathize with, this predicament as you go about your task of filling sometimes hundreds of prescriptions each day. However, few measures that can be implemented at the point of sale would be as effective in reducing drug diversion as requiring the individual picking up the controlled substance prescription to show photo ID. [Read more…]
Rx Abuse 2011-Moving Forward
In my past 2 articles, I addressed the last 20 years of pharmaceutical diversion in this country. We now need to address the problems of 2011 and beyond, and see where our collective efforts can be best used to impact the problem.
Prescription Monitoring Programs (PMPs)
In the past, the single biggest advancement in reducing and investigating prescription drug abuse has likely been the PMP. In my mind, it has been the biggest success story in some states and a dismal failure in others. [Read more…]