A pharmaceutical-related death occurs every 19 seconds in America, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency.
Prescription drug abuse is a prevalent problem and as one of only two states in the nation without a monitoring program, Missouri is not doing its part to contribute to a solution.
Sen. Kevin Engler, R-District 3, is sponsoring a new Senate bill that could change that.
The legislation would implement the electronic monitoring of prescription drug sales, tracking any prescription filled in the state. The Department of Health and Human Services would have the power to track the dispensing of any prescription drug and tie the sale to an individual.
The bill is put forth as a direct effort to curb prescription drug abuse, and we will hopefully soon see it as law.
Given that drug abuse is such an issue in the U.S., the fact that the use of painkillers has risen by 1,112 percent in the last eight years in Missouri alone, nearly double the percentage rise throughout the nation within the same time period, seems very disheartening.
Presently, with no tracking system, doctors are unable to verify if a patient is currently receiving a prescription. This contributes to “doctor shopping,” meaning someone can obtain multiple prescriptions through fraudulent means by visiting multiple doctors to have prescriptions written. This is the most common method for getting illegal prescriptions, according to the DEA.
As of right now, those who wish to do so, whether prescription drug abusers or not, can easily game the system and take advantage. This bill would remedy the situation to create a safer market for prescription drugs that would severely cripple prescription abusers’ ability to obtain them.
This is not an invasion of privacy. This is a safety regulation.
It’s time Missouri joined the rest of the nation in this honorable endeavor to end an issue of a serious negative substance abuse. Prescription abuse is all the more serious given the accessibility of prescription drugs, especially when there’s no official monitoring of them to limit excess distribution.
The only drawback to such a monitoring system would be the possible economic effect, where the monitoring of prescription drug sales would cause a decrease in sales and revenue.
This negative impact, however, is nearly entirely negated by the positive effect of eliminating an easy avenue to drug abuse. If you think it’s more important for pharmaceutical companies to make a profit than for drug abuse to stop plaguing the nation, then shame on you.
Prescription drug abuse is a serious problem. Besides, pharmaceutical companies that do make profit are aware of the potential loss and have testified in support of a drug monitoring-program, Engler said.
It’s time Missouri joined the rest of the nation. This bill must be passed in both the Senate and House and made law. Call and make sure your state senator and local representative knows you support the bill and tell them they need to make sure it’s passed. This is one simple path the nation is collectively taking to end drug abuse. Missouri is a step behind.
