A HIGH-TECH TOOL TO FIGHT ADDICTION

Coverage Of A Limited Prescription Monitoring Program Should Be Expanded
Statewide

Authorities in Western Virginia now have a high-tech trail by which to
track drug abusers who get multiple painkiller prescriptions by visiting
numerous doctors.

The regional prescription monitoring database, which should be statewide,
is a necessary tool in fighting the scourge of drug addiction and the
accompanying deaths and crime associated with it.

Since its implementation in September, the database includes more than
114,000 prescriptions filled at more than 300 pharmacies from Appomattox
County to far Southwest Virginia.

The database flags "doctor shoppers" - addicts who pretend to be ill and go
to several doctors for drugs such as OxyContin and methadone. Such
medications are used legitimately as painkillers but also can be abused,
with disastrous effects.

The high-tech tool monitors only prescriptions for Schedule II drugs, those
with the highest potential for abuse.

By tracking the prescriptions, authorities will be able to identify addicts
and curb the practice of doctor shopping.

Unfortunately, the General Assembly, which passed the bill last year,
exercised caution and created the monitoring program initially as only a
two-year pilot program in the state's Health Planning Region III, which
includes far Southwest.

In limiting the domain of the database, authorities risk the flight of
Virginia drug addicts to doctors in neighboring communities that are not
included in the database.

The General Assembly in 2004 should overcome its timidity and expand the
program statewide. The Department of Health Professions, which has
oversight of the database, should prepare to expand the computer network.

Although the pilot program has received just one inquiry so far, officials
anticipate it will become more valuable to the region's doctors and law
enforcement authorities. The benefits of such an essential instrument in
fighting drug addiction should not be limited to one area of the state.