Georgia Approves Prescription Drug Monitoring Program
Georgia has become the latest state to approve a prescription drug monitoring program designed to help stop the abuse of opioid painkillers.
The Lexington-Herald Leader reports that counting Georgia’s law, there are now 35 states with operating monitoring systems. Another 13 have been approved, but are not yet up and running. Only Missouri, New Hampshire and the District of Columbia do not have approved systems, according to the article.
Georgia officials said they hope the prescription monitoring system will be operational by January 2013, if they are able to get grants to fund it.
Florida Governor Rick Scott recently signed into law a bill designed to shut down “pill mills,” pain clinics that cater to people shopping for opioid medications. The legislation includes a drug monitoring database, which allows pharmacists and law enforcement officials to keep track of prescriptions. Drug monitoring databases are designed to prevent “doctor shopping” and to quickly identify doctors who are passing out prescription medication illegally. Private funds are expected to cover the Florida database’s set up costs and the first 18 months of operation.
CMON Georgia – Get Moving!
Not operational until January 2013? Are you kidding me? Do you have any idea that while you are looking for funds among the Peach Trees, people are dying because they are being allowed to doctor shop and fill all the pain killer prescriptions they need in Georgia.
So If a driver numbified by Vicodin or Oxycontin kills one of your family members you can tell them you were looking for bucks to buy a computer program.
Wake up Y’all !
This is just another way big brother is trying to get into our every day lives. Look, pain is subjective, who is to say who hurts and who does not. The DEA approves these medications for use, but then wants to arrest those who take the medications. Different people need different strengths of opiates to achieve pain control. Codein may work for me, but dillaudid is needed for my cousin.
There wouldn’t need to be an expensive database for drunk drivers.Maybe try that first.
the other big thing is that tolerance is a big facter in pain magment and when one needs more meds because of it and the docter says no cause the dea says there is a limit? and who are they to say that is all you need that in plenty to take care of your pain, and when that happens you find these patients shopping for more to take care of there needs. there is so much money spent in the goverment on drug issues. so much and they dont make a damm lick of difference not one bit. the more they do the bigger it gets. take pills away and the heroin will come back ten fold. drugs have been here our whols lives its up to use how we mannage it and the amount of money it takes and its not being done right.
I live in Ga and I’m in pain management. I am only 30 and its hard to keep a full Tim job when you throw up all the time from hurting so bad. Then your doctor is scared to give you what you really need to have a some what of an existence and you can’t keep up with kids etc because of pain. It’s like a prison and unless you are truly in pain you don’t understand what its like. It’s sad my life is now controlled by people who have no clue what I go through everyday just to barely live. This is where the diversion comes into play. No job, can’t get any insurance, so unless you are rich, have a rich family, or have money somewhere you have to have someone pay for you to go see a doctor and they want the Meds to sell and abuse. At that point you get stuck in a cycle you can’t escape. It’s sad really. I have seen this happen and pray it doesn’t happen to me but the only other option would be to suffer or die.
I have Muscular Dystrophy and already have been cut off of Pain Meds. I think someone needs to crush the Legs and Hands of these idiots and refuse to give them any kind of Pain Killers then they would know how those of us with pain feel.I will get what I need by staying drunk
When this goes into effect you will see more illegal Drug sales and people getting killed by Drunk Drivers. The Drug enforcement officers could carack down on illegal sales with out hurting people that need pain killers most Pain Management Clinics are to blame for this. Close them down and allow the Primary Care Doctors to give these Meds to their patients. The Primary Care Doctors know which patients need then.