DATABASE BEST TOOL TO STEM CURRENT DRUG CRISIS

Florida's prescription-drug epidemic continues unabated. It poses the
single greatest drug-related threat to the health and safety of
Floridians since crack cocaine. Not only do prescription-drug
overdoses kill seven Floridians every day, but drugs prescribed in
Florida are killing citizens in other states in ever-growing numbers.

Pain clinics have exploded throughout the state, many operating as
illegal "pill mills" where drugs are traded for cash. Florida has
become a favorite destination for drug-seekers along the Eastern
Seaboard and Appalachia. This threat will continue to devastate - and
the deaths will increase - unless Florida takes action to implement a
Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).

But it's not just the pain clinics. Doctor shoppers routinely take
advantage of physicians by visiting multiple doctors to fraudulently
obtain pain killers. Other scoundrels steal, forge or alter
prescription pads to acquire prescription narcotics for abuse or sale
- - and all because there is no system like the PDMP in place to prevent it.

What can we do about it? Turning up the heat with extensive law
enforcement operations will bring only limited and temporary relief.
Our new attorney general is to be commended for taking aim at the
pill mills. Her efforts will yield some success, but without a system
that stops the diversion of pharmaceuticals at the source (and
thereby reinforces her success), there can be no major impact.
Instead we need a comprehensive system that stops the doctor
shopping, catches the criminal physicians who overprescribe for
profit and prevents illegal diversion before it starts.

By far our best tool for beating this problem is the Prescription
Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). It will deter and prevent much of the
illegal diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. Potential doctor
shoppers will be stymied when physicians review a listing of their
recent prescriptions for controlled substances.

For some who are addicted, the PDMP may well be the impetus for a
much-needed referral to substance abuse treatment. Our PDMP is fully
HIPAA compliant and protects the privacy of the patients; those
privacy protections are guaranteed by law.

Although not a "silver bullet," this new system has the ability to
begin putting the brakes on this runaway problem. Our law enforcement
officers across the state have been eagerly anticipating this because
they know it will help stop crime and diversion as it speeds the
resolution of diversion cases. The No. 1 job of government is to keep
citizens safe; the PDMP will help do just that.

Florida's PDMP is supported by a strong coalition of stakeholders who
all helped craft it: law enforcement, medical professionals
(including physicians and pharmacists), treatment professionals,
local drug-prevention organizations throughout the state and even the
pain management clinics. Remember, not all pain management clinics
are bad. The good ones know that the PDMP will weed out the criminals.

What about the cost? The PDMP is being completely funded by a
combination of federal grants and private donations - no state funds
are being used. Florida has received $800,000 in federal Harold
Rogers PDMP grant funding, and the private, nonprofit Florida PDMP
Foundation has raised and donated over $500,000 - more than the $1.2
million needed to run the program for the first year.

It's time to quit posturing and doing nothing while people die. If
there is a better solution to the PDMP, then let's hear it.
Currently, 38 other states have an operational PDMP now, and five
more have passed laws and are awaiting implementation. What do they
know that we don't? Worse yet, Florida now has other states
chastising us over our deadly inaction.

Florida must implement the PDMP now. It is the single most effective
mechanism we have to stop the epidemic of prescription-drug abuse.
Inaction or repeal is an option that will only result in further
deaths, greater human suffering and tremendous human and economic
costs we cannot afford. Let's put aside rhetoric and put this program
into operation.

Bruce Grant previously served as director of the Florida Office of Drug Control.