Pubdate: Sat, 09 Jul 2005
Source: Oklahoman, The (OK)
Copyright: 2005 The Oklahoma Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.oklahoman.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/318
Author: Jim Killackey and Ken Raymond
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

AGENTS GET SCRIPT TO TRACK DRUGS

As prescription drug abuse continues to increase nationwide, 
Oklahoma's drug agents are expanding their ability to track the sale 
of popular but addictive medications.

Forged prescriptions, teenagers bringing prescription drugs to school 
and a rise in deaths from the abuse of controlled drugs have become a 
societal plague, officials said.

Changes are occurring.

"We started back in 1990 putting together a prescription monitoring 
system for category two drugs, which is the highest level of drugs, 
such as codeine or morphine," said Mark Woodward, spokesman for the 
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs.

"Over time, so many new categories of drugs have surfaced and become 
more sought after by drug-dependent people, such as Hydrocodone ... 
that we have had a hard time tracking them."

As the number of prescription drugs has increased, he said, so has 
the number of abusers.

According to a 214-page report released Thursday by the National 
Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University, more 
Americans abuse prescription medications than cocaine, hallucinogens, 
inhalants and heroin combined.

 From 1992 to 2003, the report shows, teen abuse of prescription 
drugs jumped 212 percent, while adult abuse rose 81 percent. The 
number of Americans abusing prescription drugs increased seven times 
faster than the increase in the country's population.

At least 15 million Americans are believed to be misusing 
prescription medications.

Oklahoma drug agents are hoping an expansion of their prescription 
drug tracking system, which already is under way, will help them 
better fight the problem, Woodward said.

In 2004, lawmakers approved the expansion, Woodward said, and the 
drug bureau has obtained a federal grant to help.

The expanded system will track all categories of prescription drugs, 
Woodward said, but only will alert authorities about suspicious activity.

"This computer, it has specific criteria that will send up a red flag."

One of the main prescription drug abuses the system should detect is 
so-called "doctor-shopping," he said.

"Someone who is addicted to painkillers, for example, they'll often 
go to four or five different doctors and get four or five different 
prescriptions, then go to four or five different pharmacies and get 
them filled -- sometimes every day," Woodward said.

Often, the drugs are then resold, he said, with some selling 
illegally for as much as $50 a pill.

Blame for the problem, state officials said, can be spread around.

"The issue boils down to the ease at which individuals can obtain 
prescription medications today," said Phil Woodward, executive 
director of the Oklahoma Pharmaceutical Association.

"Physicians are bombarded by their patients on a daily basis 
requesting various prescription medications. Most physicians are 
under a great deal of pressure from patients to give them what they 
want instead of what they need.

"The majority of physicians in this country are very responsible, but 
there always are a few who would rather write Rxs for their patients 
than just say no to them."
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