Pubdate: Fri, 12 Dec 2003 Source: Roanoke Times (VA) Copyright: 2003 Roanoke Times Contact: http://www.roanoke.com/roatimes/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/368 A HIGH-TECH TOOL TO FIGHT ADDICTION Coverage Of A Limited Prescription Monitoring Program Should Be Expanded Statewide Authorities in Western Virginia now have a high-tech trail by which to track drug abusers who get multiple painkiller prescriptions by visiting numerous doctors. The regional prescription monitoring database, which should be statewide, is a necessary tool in fighting the scourge of drug addiction and the accompanying deaths and crime associated with it. Since its implementation in September, the database includes more than 114,000 prescriptions filled at more than 300 pharmacies from Appomattox County to far Southwest Virginia. The database flags "doctor shoppers" - addicts who pretend to be ill and go to several doctors for drugs such as OxyContin and methadone. Such medications are used legitimately as painkillers but also can be abused, with disastrous effects. The high-tech tool monitors only prescriptions for Schedule II drugs, those with the highest potential for abuse. By tracking the prescriptions, authorities will be able to identify addicts and curb the practice of doctor shopping. Unfortunately, the General Assembly, which passed the bill last year, exercised caution and created the monitoring program initially as only a two-year pilot program in the state's Health Planning Region III, which includes far Southwest. In limiting the domain of the database, authorities risk the flight of Virginia drug addicts to doctors in neighboring communities that are not included in the database. The General Assembly in 2004 should overcome its timidity and expand the program statewide. The Department of Health Professions, which has oversight of the database, should prepare to expand the computer network. Although the pilot program has received just one inquiry so far, officials anticipate it will become more valuable to the region's doctors and law enforcement authorities. The benefits of such an essential instrument in fighting drug addiction should not be limited to one area of the state. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens