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Florida approves drug monitoring program

NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 6, 2009

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Florida became the 39th state to adopt prescription drug monitoring laws when Gov. Charlie Crist signed a bill into law in June authorizing the program meant to help combat prescription drug abuse in the state.

Florida has been considered among the worst states for prescription drug abuse. The state's rate of deaths caused by prescription drugs is three times that of illegal drugs. The newly appointed federal drug czar, R. Gil Kerlikowske, spent most of his law enforcement career in Florida and used the state as an example in a recent speech calling for similar laws in all 50 states.

The law calls for the creation of a database where pharmacists enter the names of all patients filling prescriptions for controlled substances. Physicians can use the database to help identify so-called doctor shoppers who go from practice to practice to obtain multiple prescriptions in order to sell or abuse the drugs.

There was some concern that a recent incident in Virginia might halt efforts for a monitoring program in other states. A hacker or group of hackers vandalized Virginia's monitoring program Web site and posted a note there claiming to have the records of more than 8 million patients. The incident is under investigation.

When the program will start in Florida remains unclear. The state is working to secure funding to create and maintain the tracking system.

Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2009/07/06/bibf0706.htm.

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