Prescription Drug monitoring is done state by state, often c called a PDMP. Not all states participate in a PDMP. PDMP are run by the states themselves, and often have slightly different policies. They are all a statewide electronic database that collects certain data on prescriptions dispensed in that state. These programs are run by statewide regulatory, administrative or law enforcement agencies. The agency governing the program in turn distributes the information to individuals such as doctors and hospitals who are authorized to receive this information for their professions.
These programs are helpful tools to help address prescription drug abuse and addiction. The programs can be used to identify and possibly prevent prescription drug abuse. They can identify possible individuals who are addicted to prescription drugs and help facilitate an intervention and treatment. These programs can also help support legitimate medical use of controlled substances. The data received from these programs can help state health agencies determine abuse trends so that they can educate the general population about abuse and addiction to prescription drugs.
Pharmacists enter all controlled substances into the database which stops “doctor shopping” Where addicted patients go around to several doctors and get the prescriptions for the same medications from each doctor. There are rules about how often they can be filled so that the quantities are not enough to be sold and if a patient needs the prescription more often then allowed, it can possibly identify a patient who may have become addicted and needs help.
Many prescription monitoring databases also allow doctors and pharmacists to gain information from other states, particularly states that are nearby. This can help with the problem of people driving across the state line of the nearest state in search of more prescription medications. Doctors do complain that the databases are not user friendly and it takes some time to enter all the prescriptions and investigate all their patients’ previous prescriptions, they are the start to a much needed monitoring of prescription medications. These programs are not perfect, but they are one step towards our fight against prescription drug abuse.