State lawmakers just say no to monitoring drugs

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State lawmakers just say no to monitoring drugs

Fri, 05/22/2020 - 02:43
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JEFFERSON CITY – At the start of this year’s General Assembly session, Missouri remained the only state without a prescription drug monitoring program, or PDMP. At the end of the session, Missouri maintained that distinction. A measure to create a program died in the Republican-dominated Senate on the session’s final day. PDMPs are used across the nation in an effort to reduce opioid addiction. Lawmakers from Clay and Ray counties split on whether to pass the measure. Looking at PDMPs nationally, The Pew Charitable Trusts found the programs have value. “Analysis of aggregate PDMP data can reveal patterns of overprescribing in specific counties or by physician specialty. In addition, when combined with other data sets, PDMP data may unveil emerging drug trends that can guide harm reduction and prevention efforts,” Pew stated. “As states continue to improve PDMPs, they should be engaged in ongoing evaluation and consider any unintended consequences prior to implementation. Rep…

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