Prescription Drug Epidemic In Florida
The rise of prescription drug abuse has achieved epidemic proportions in the U.S. during the past decade. Florida has become the epicenter for the availability of controlled prescription drugs; not only Floridians but out-of-state seekers of the easily obtained controlled substances flock to Florida thereby establishing the “Flamingo Express.” As of September 2009, 33 of the top 50 dispensing practitioners of oxycodone nationwide were located in Broward County; the other 24 for a total of 49 of 50 of the top oxycodone dispensing practitioners are elsewhere in Florida. In an effort to abate prescription drug abuse and diversion in Florida the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) was passed during the 2009 legislative session. Governor Charlie Crist signed the bill into law on June 18, 2009, providing Florida with the ability to improve patient standard of care and reduce controlled prescription drug abuse and diversion.
The intent of this statute, s. 893.055 and the accompanying Public Records law s. 893.0551, is not to interfere with the legitimate medical use of controlled substances; however, the people of Florida are in need of and will benefit from a privacy-protected PDMP. It will collect specified dispensed controlled prescription drug medication information primarily to encourage safer controlled substance prescription use and reduce drug abuse and diversion. The system will aid the state of Florida in educating and informing health care practitioners while providing an added tool in patient standard of care. The PDMP will allow health care practitioners to view all of their patient’s dispensed prescription history that is fifteen (15) days or later. The practitioner will then be able to check the following to:
- Determine the potential for adverse drug reactions
- Determine the best possible therapeutic therapy
- Determine patient compliance with practitioner’s guidance
- Determine if there are duplicative prescriptions during the same time period
- Determine if their patient is “doctor shopping” i.e. seeing multiple physicians within the past thirty (30) days and not telling them they already have a prescription for the same controlled substance(s)
- Determine potential for drug to drug or drug to allergy interactions
This includes finding appropriate treatment for patients who have become addicted to controlled prescription drugs. The PDMP will also act as a guide for public health initiatives to alert the population regarding the dangers of misusing prescription drugs and bolster prevention efforts in regards to the abuse and/or diversion of prescribed controlled substances. The ability to provide increased attention to detail will be used while designing the system to ensure that those who need prescribed controlled substances receive them in a manner that protects patient confidentiality. To ensure the legislative intent of the PDMP statute is adhered to during implementation of this database, the Implementation and Oversight Task Force will monitor, review, and make recommendations during the implementation process. The PDMP is required by the s. 893.055 to be established by the Florida Department of Health by December 1, 2010.
Lastly, the PDMP is not state-funded; hence the non-profit The Florida PDMP Foundation, Inc will conduct fund-raising to provide resources to the Florida Department of Health for PDMP implementation and operations. The point of contact for those desiring to support the Foundation is the Foundation’s Executive Director, Stephania Wilson at flpdmpfoundation@gmail.com or (850) 748-1621. In addition, non-state grants obtained by the Foundation and the Department of Health will help fund the PDMP. The PDMP is required by the s. 893.055 to be established by the Florida Department of Health by December 1, 2010.