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Stopping Prescription Drug Abuse

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Abuse of prescription drugs is on the rise in the United States, and Montana is feeling the impact.  Prescription drug abuse is one of the fastest growing fronts in the war on drugs in Montana, and we need to strengthen our laws and reallocate resources to make sure that we’re adequately fighting the problem.

I believe that it’s time for Montana to get serious about preventing prescription drug abuse.  The cold statistics paint a grim picture— many Montanans have lost their lives as a direct result of prescription drug abuse.  But the toll extends to areas that are hard to quantify: broken marriages, ruined careers, and the personal destruction that comes from feeding such a powerful addiction.

One of the effective tools we can add to that fight is a prescription drug monitoring program that allows health care providers access to prescription information in order to stem practices such as “doctor shopping”.  This monitoring program must balance prevention with privacy, and any legislation should be limited in scope with very limited access to information under strict rules.  Under the type of program I support, health officials such as the Montana Board of Pharmacy or the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services would maintain a monitoring program database with strict oversight and limited access.  One of the primary goals of the program will be to end doctor shopping by those intent on abusing prescription drugs. 

The U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of Diversion Control, reports that 38 states now have prescription drug monitoring programs.  Eleven other states, including Montana, are considering similar legislation.   As it becomes tougher for prescription drug abusers to obtain drugs in their state, they often migrate to other states without prescription drug monitoring programs to doctor shop in those states.

Legislation for a prescription drug monitoring program has been considered by the Montana Legislature before, but failed to adequately address privacy concerns and failed to garner solid support from physicians, law enforcement, pharmacists, civil liberty defenders, and other stakeholders.  I’m already working to gain that consensus so we can put a monitoring program in place that satisfies all concerns.  Additionally, we need to make sure any program we design doesn’t place an inordinate burden on small pharmacies or health care providers in rural areas.  Any legislation also must not make it more difficult for legitimate pain sufferers to obtain needed medicines.  I pledge to help bring consensus to the prescription drug abuse problem so we can take this important step toward prevention.

One of the most frustrating facts about prescription drug abuse is that in many instances the drugs are procured right from the medicine cabinet at home.  An alarming number of teenagers who steal pills for “casual” use find themselves spiraling out of control into addiction.  Education is one of the keys to stopping prescription drug abuse — parents, teachers, and kids need to recognize that prescription drugs are every bit as addictive and dangerous as street drugs.  If I am elected, I will make sure that the Department of Justice partners with government agencies, schools and colleges, law enforcement, drug manufacturers, and others to make sure that Montanans of all ages are educated about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and about ways to prevent that abuse.

I believe that we must also crack down on the Internet sale of prescription drugs without a prescription, or without a qualified physician utilizing best medical practices.   Currently, Montanans can report illegal prescription drug sales to the U.S. Department of Justice, and I will implement similar reporting resources on the Montana Department of Justice’s web site as Attorney General.

I also propose programs to assist Montanans in the safe incineration of unwanted or expired prescription medications.   Many Montana homes have medicine cabinets stuffed full of expired and unneeded prescription drugs that not only attract those intent on abusing those drugs, but also present a health hazard to minors and others through accidental use.    A convenient disposal alternative is needed to prevent the environmental impact of dumping drugs into our sewer systems.  Under my plan for addressing prescription drug abuse, local and statewide drug disposal programs will be initiated with grant monies and other funding sources so that Montanans will have dependable access to prescription drug disposal programs. 

Most of all, we need to show compassion and provide support for the thousands of good Montanans who have been consumed by the powerful force of addiction.

Tim Fox Plan for Preventing Prescription Drug Abuse

• Educate Montanans on the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and on ways to prevent that abuse.
• Promote measured and balanced prescription drug mnitoring legislation that ends “doctor shopping” while protecting privacy rights and ensuring access to medications for those legitimately in need.
• Crack down on Internet sales of prescription drugs without a prescription or without medical necessity.
• Provide Montanans with more avenues to report the illegal sales of prescription drugs, and the abuse of prescription drugs.
• Help Montanans to incinerate unwanted prescription drugs to protect the environment, prevent accidental use, and stem the flow of drugs to abusers.