Fight Against Prescription Drugs Takes Another Step Forward

Thirteen multi-state PDMP projects were sponsored in 2012-13. While providers indicated that PDMPs gave them more confidence for prescribing pain medication, the study concluded that the easier the data is to obtain, the more they will be used, and the safer the practice can be.

 

You’re not only reducing the supply [of pain medications] for those who use them inappropriately, but also for those in need.

Although relieving pain and reducing suffering are primary emergency physician responsibilities, there is a concurrent duty to limit the personal and societal harm that can result from prescription drug misuse and abuse.

The CDC advises providers to use PDMPs… States should consider ways to increase their use … available real-time, and alerts to prescribers.

Recommendations for full use of PDMP include:

• PDMPs can be effective clinical tools in medication management involving controlled substances.
• PDMPs should be available for clinicians across state boundaries.
• Every prescribing clinician should be familiar with the process of accessing and utilizing information from PDMP’s so that they can incorporate this information in their practices.

Prescribing or dispensing to an abuser, diverter, misuser or ‘doctor shopper’ puts the provider, their practice and or institution, as well as the patients at high risk.

Although relieving pain and reducing suffering are primary emergency physician responsibilities, there is a concurrent duty to limit the personal and societal harm that can result from prescription drug misuse and abuse.

The use of PDMPs…is helping to reduce misuse of prescription drugs.

Always check the medical record… and a prescription drug monitoring database.

Doctors (and other clinicians) need to know what prescriptions have been given to their patients by other practitioners. This information should be included in the patients’ electronic health care records accessible through a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that provides immediate information.

Emergency Physicians must balance under-treatment of pain with concerns about drug diversion and doctor shopping. Use of a state PDMP may help identify patients who are at high risk for prescription opioid diversion or doctor shopping… To quantify the effects of PDMPs, studies were conducted of ED providers who cared for adult patients with pain. Of the patients with complete data in one study, information from the state’s PDMP System altered prescribing practice in 41%. Knowledge of the information provided had an important impact.

You’re not only reducing the supply [of pain medications] for those who use them inappropriately, but also for those in need.

The abuse of opioid pain medication has a devastating impact on public health and safety in this country, killing 46 people every day… Prescription Drug poisoning deaths – now over 30,000/yr – outnumber deaths from motor vehicle crashes.

The CDC advises providers to use PDMPs… States should consider ways to increase their use … available real-time, and alerts to prescribers.

What prescribers can do to safely and effectively use opioids for CNCP (includes the following)

• Screen for prior or current substance abuse/misuse
• Do not use concomitant sedative–hypnotics or benzodiazepines
• Track daily MED using an online dosing calculator
• Use the state Prescription Drug Monitoring Program to monitor all sources of controlled substances

The use of PDMPs…is helping to reduce misuse of prescription drugs.

Although relieving pain and reducing suffering are primary emergency physician responsibilities, there is a concurrent duty to limit the personal and societal harm that can result from prescription drug misuse and abuse.