Characterizing prescription drug abuse as an "epidemic" is not an exaggeration.
When Missouri legislators return from spring break, they will resume work on proposals to create a prescription drug-monitoring program. Such a program will not eliminate the problem, but it will serve as a tool to curb abuse, addiction and overdose deaths.
First, let's look at the problem. A story in Saturday's News Tribune reported:
• The quantity of prescription painkillers sold in the U.S. has increased by 300 percent since 1999.
• In that time, the country's drug overdose death rate has more than doubled.
• In 2013, prescription drugs were involved in more than half of all the overdose deaths.
Anyone who takes prescription medications knows they must have a doctor's prescription and pharmacies restrict early refills. So how are people able to abuse prescriptions?
Two of the more common methods are: "doctor shopping" - obtaining prescriptions from multiple physicians; and buying from deceitful profiteers, who obtain prescriptions to resell.
Among the 50 states, Missouri is the lone holdout in implementing a prescription drug-monitoring program.
The primary stumbling block has been making sure privacy is preserved and the computerized database is not hacked. Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph and a family physician, is wary of loose regulations among the estimated 30,000 pharmaceutical prescribers and dispensers in Missouri who would have access to the database.
Another consideration is cost. Start-up costs range from $450,000 to $1.5 million, and annual operating costs range from $125,000 to $1 million.
To their credit, lawmakers are researching programs in other states, as well as programs that are unique to Missouri.
Up to 49 experiments - not accounting for duplication - are being conducted by the states.
In developing a program for Missouri, effectiveness, security and cost are parts of the equation. Let's borrow what works best, tailor it to Missouri's needs and implement a prescription drug-monitoring program.
We are remiss if we don't block this avenue of abuse, addiction and fatal overdoses.