Dr. Joel Morton is founder, president and medical director of Summit Pharmacy Inc-A Prescription for Curbing Opiate Abuse--How Compounding Pharmacies Can Help

A Prescription for Curbing Opiate Abuse

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Every day in the United States, 105 people die as a result of drug overdose, according to the CDC. Approximately three out of four of those deaths involve opiates.
Although I don’t have all the answers, I would offer five policy measures we should undertake to combat the epidemic of abuse of prescription opioids. These suggestions are not mine alone, but are synthesized from some of the best minds in America. Each of us has a role, whether we’re providers of care, payers of care, those who represent patients, or part of the general public. In no particular order, we must:

1. Institute a robust prescription monitoring program.
2. Require a single prescriber of medications.
3. Make medication giveback programs the norm.
4. Make less abusable medications and treatments more readily available.
5. Transform opiate-related medical practice.

Stronger Prescription monitoring. Make comprehensive prescription monitoring accessible to providers, pharmacies and those directly involved in patient care.  These programs are currently operated by state governments with varying degrees of effectiveness.  After speaking with physicians and attorneys across the country, I’m convinced that we should at least consider a national program. Patients easily move from state to state, especially in the Northeast, enabling them to double- or triple-dip on prescriptions.
Single prescriber of medications. This requirement will further reduce the likelihood of doctor shopping.  Data from one state recently saw patients dying weekly with prescriptions from as many as five different providers.  A single provider of opiates should be trained/knowledgeable in opiate use and the tools needed to monitor a patient’s activity, including opioid contracts and urine testing. Meanwhile, we should consider a single pharmacy policy for patients as well, a measure that would make following medications easier.

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