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DrugScreening.org


 
California Targets Top Abusers of State Prescription-Drug System
October 2, 2008

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News Summary

The California attorney general's office has announced a crackdown on prescription drug fraud that will start by targeting 50 individuals with the most extensive track record of visiting multiple doctors and pharmacies to get drugs, the Imperial Valley News reported Sept. 30.

"These prescription drug addicts are abusing the system, draining time and money from hundreds of doctors and pharmacies who are there to help real sick people, not con artists," said California Attorney General Edmund Brown Jr. "We want to end these dangerous cycles of fraud and abuse."

A statewide campaign was launched in June to address prescription drug abuse and make it easier for doctors to keep track of prescription drug records. The plan includes a proposal to ensure health professionals access to computers with real-time updated information describing patients' prescription drug histories.

The initiative has led to dozens of arrests of individuals suspected of gaming the system to fraudulently obtain large quantities of controlled prescription drugs.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by KneeDeep on 03 Oct 08 12:17 PM EDT
First. The "geeks" looking at state databases don't find addicts;they find patterns of use. "hundreds a day" is exagerated and simply an emotional response from the lack of understanding of the problem of prescription drug diversion, dr. shopping in particular. Addiction is a medical diagnosis beyond interpretation of patterns of obtaining prescriptions. Second. Fraud does not equal personal use. Many cases of fraud are of individuals who obtain controlled substances for illicit distribution, i.e. drug diversion. Suboxone is not an option in those cases. Third. Health professionals have access to the database so that they may diagnosis, intervene and provide medical treatment for abuse or addiction.

Posted by Mike Boyle on 03 Oct 08 10:30 AM EDT
If this initiative was tied to an option for suboxone treatment tied to well designed outpatient treatment services, it would have the potential to be an effective means of reducing costs and engaging people in needed services

Posted by John French on 03 Oct 08 08:56 AM EDT
Finding prescription addicts is easy. Turn any computer geek loose on State databases and they can find hundreds in a day. So what? What's missing from the article is any plan California has for dealing with these addicts once they are discovered. Prison? What a lousy solution to a serious problem, in cost to both society and the person.

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