PastRx Resource Library

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.

Whenever possible, orthopaedic surgeons should request and review old medical records and speak with the patient’s primary physician about past medication problems. Currently, states have Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs designed to assist law enforcement in the identification of doctor shoppers; these data are also accessible to physicians.

An improved PDMP … with accurate and timely data analysis should be regarded as the cornerstone of our collective efforts to address prescription drug abuse.

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

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

PDMPs have many limitations in their current format, including complex access issues, timeliness, and whether the data are presented to the physician automatically or require physician effort to retrieve.

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

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.