Aiming to prevent abuse of prescribed medications, the state of California wants to create an online database of drug prescriptions that doctors and pharmacists can easily check using a secure website, the Associated Press reported June 3.

The system is designed to prevent patients from "doctor shopping" to get multiple prescriptions of controlled drugs.

"We have a horse and buggy system today," said California Attorney General Jerry Brown. "The doctors or the pharmacists can't really keep track -- in real time -- of abusers of prescription drugs."

However, Brown said the state doesn't have the $3.5 million needed to create the database and is looking for funding from a private foundation and the federal government. The database would include information on 86 million drug prescriptions; about 60,000 inquiries are made to the existing Controlled Substance Utilization Review and Evaluation System each year, but queries must be made by fax or phone and take several days to complete.

"To have real-time data regarding patient medication usage would be extremely helpful and increase patient safety," said Bob Wailes, a pain medication specialist. "If people are smart there are ways they use to trick doctors into overprescribing. Having this electronic database, though, will severely limit their ability to do that."