PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: NEW TECHNOLOGY CAN HELP FIGHT ABUSES

As a Federal Agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, I
fought the drug war for more than 28 years. After retiring I have
come to realize that heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy are not among the
most abused drugs anymore. One of the biggest threats in our current
war on drugs is prescription medicine.

According to the DEA, more than 7 million Americans are abusing
prescription drugs; that's more than the number of people abusing
cocaine, heroin, hallucinogens, ecstasy, and inhalants combined.

In the 1980's, Florida was known as the drug capital of our country.
A combination of aggressive law enforcement, increased treatment
programs and education resulted in a dramatic decline in Florida's
image in the drug war. However, we now find that prescription drugs
are emerging as the drug of choice of the 21st century. Once again,
Florida is on the front lines — having the reputation of being
America's prescription drug capital.

So, why is Florida the capital of prescription drug abuse? The answer
is simple: our state has failed respond to this 21st century
challenge by enacting an effective, cutting edge prescription
monitoring database system. Without a database, drug traffickers will
continue to take advantage of Florida's failure to act.

There are currently 38 states with prescription drug databases.
However, these states rely on weak, outdated technology that does not
allow for real-time entry of prescribing and dispensing data —
meaning days go by before red flags go up on potentially dangerous activity.

For example, it can be up to two weeks before information is
downloaded to a database to evaluate if a person is "doctor shopping"
or obtaining multiple prescriptions from multiple doctors. This
reporting lag time can mean lives lost.

Fortunately, our lawmakers now realize the significance of this tool
in this new war on drugs. Unfortunately, they are on the verge of
adopting this out-of-date system. We can do better, and we must.

In today's world we must apply the best technology available to equip
law enforcement officers with the information they need to stop
prescription fraud.

We have a unique opportunity to adopt an electronic finger printing
system called biometrics. This system uses real-time reporting, is
more secure and protects the privacy of law-abiding patients.

The biometric system is very easy to use — a person can walk in and
simply roll their fingerprint and information is immediately available.

By using this biometric system, we will now have the technology to
allow us to identify doctor shoppers in 15 seconds — not 15 days, not
15 hours, but 15 seconds. I've seen this technology in action. It
works, it is secure and it is what we need to fight this emerging threat.

If implemented, this system has the potential to bring doctor
shopping in Florida to almost a dead stop. This is clearly a unique
opportunity for the state legislators to step up and be the leader in
fighting the war on drugs.

Florida lawmakers have a choice: go with a weaker drug protection
system and come back in a couple of years to deal with the
consequences, or take advantage of the latest technology and become a
leader in protecting lives.