DRUG TRACKING BILL GETTING ATTENTION

Florida lawmakers are seriously considering three Senate bills that would
create a prescription drug tracking network. The goal would be to alert
authorities of possible drug abuse and drug peddling.

Senate bills 636, 638 and 640 call for setting up a statewide database with
pharmacies to alert doctors, pharmacists and law enforcement to anyone
filling prescriptions that exceed what is needed.

Several states have already implemented such a program with great success.
In Kentucky, for example, dealers are reportedly crossing state lines to
buy drugs, especially OxyContin, for resale or personal use -- a fact that
gives credence to the need for a nationwide network.

"(The program) gives us a summary of a particular person's history of
receiving medications," said Lt. Col. Joe Williams, who is in charge of the
Kentucky State Police drug control unit. "If they are diverting, they will
often go to several doctors to get the drug."

The database is used to investigate doctors as well as patients. For that
reason, some doctors oppose the idea -- although others believe the
monitoring systems are useful.

Other opposition has come from Purdue Pharma, the Stamford, Conn. maker of
OxyContin. The company opposed efforts to single out their drug in a
program being considered last year in West Virginia. Purdue Pharma's
argument was, if you single out one drug, abusers will merely switch to
another.

Florida lawmakers seem open to the idea of adopting a tracking system.
Senators who are sponsoring the bill were concerned of drawing opposition
from the Florida Medical Association. The FMA, however, has signed on with
the idea and apparently will not lobby for its defeat.

That clears the road for lawmakers to proceed with the plan -- one that was
cleared of other potential legal problems in 1997 when the Supreme Court
ruled states could track drug prescriptions.

No costs have been quoted, but it is believed a program in Florida would
cost about $1 million. With lawmakers looking everywhere for ways to save
money, even $1 million could be considered costly. It is a small price,
however, if the program works.

Drug abuse leads to crime and that costs everyone -- taxpayers and crime
victims. Drugs also ruin lives and break up families. If Florida lawmakers
can even make a dent in illegal drug use, this bill deserves support.