Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
The Office of National Drug Control Policy
(ONDCP) is working with state legislatures to cut down the rising numbers of
prescription drug abusers. National surveys show that the non-medical use of
prescription drugs continues to rise in America.
The number of people who had used pain relievers non-medically
at least once during their lifetime increased 5 percent from 2002 to 2003,
totaling more than 31 million people. Current non-medical use of pain relievers
increased by 15 percent among young adults.
There will continue to be a
greater focus to regulate prescription drugs through the
Office of National Drug Control
Policy in an effort to curb the rising abuse. One of the main avenues is
state-level prescription drug monitoring programs, which have taken a leading
role in detecting and deterring the diversion of popular prescription
controlled substances. Prescription drug monitoring programs are currently in
place or plan to be operational in roughly half of the states this year. These
states include CA, CT, ID, IL, IN, KY, MA, ME, MI, MS, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, RI,
TX, UT, VA, WA, WV, and WY.
According to the ONDCP, "Programs and
efforts that do not reduce drug use must be restructured or eliminated, an
effort to use taxpayer money wisely that this Administration takes
seriously."
Since its inception, the
National Alliance
for Model State Drug Laws has assisted states with efforts to address to
diversion of, abuse of, misuse of, and addiction to prescription drugs. In
fiscal year 2003, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Justice
Assistance designated the Alliance as the technical assistance provider for the
Harold Rogers Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.