prescription drug abuse

Tennessee Doctors to Check Patient History When Prescribing Painkillers

Chad Lampe and The Associated Press — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 12:18:35 +0000

Beginning today Tennessee doctors prescribing painkillers and other controlled substances are required to check their patients' prescription history to prevent abuse and doctor shopping.

The new requirement signed into law last year put doctors on the front line of Tennessee's battle with some of the nation's highest prescription drug abuse rates. The state's Controlled Substance Monitoring Database has been around since 2006 and now clinicians prescribing any opioid or benzodiazepine are required to check that database first.

TN Puts Tighter Controls on Prescription Drugs

Whitney Jones and The Associated Press — Fri, 21 Dec 2012 12:48:27 +0000

Tennessee officials hope a new law requiring doctors to check a database before prescribing certain drugs will help curb addiction and prevent deaths. The state's controlled substances monitoring database has been around for several years, but its use has not been mandatory. Starting Jan. 1, doctors and others who prescribe drugs must register with the database. They will have to start checking it every time they prescribe certain powerful drugs, with limited exceptions starting April 1.

Generic Painkillers Pose Threat in Addiction Fight

The Associated Press and Whitney Jones — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:18:51 +0000

Kentucky officials say curtailing prescription-pill abuse will suffer a major setback if a wave of generic painkillers reaches the market without safeguards. OxyContin and Opana ER patents are set to expire next year allowing for generic versions of the powerful drugs. The brand-name painkillers were popular sources for abusers until tamper-resistant formulas were added.

IL Joins Network to Track Prescription Drug Abuse

The Associated Press and Whitney Jones — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:36:11 +0000

An Illinois medicine-monitoring program joins a national data-sharing network to further prevent prescription drug abuse. The Department of Human Services is linking its prescription monitoring program to a National Association of Boards of Pharmacy network. By joining the national network, Human Services will be able to better identify people who have been issued multiple prescriptions across state lines.

Prescription Drug Abuse Law Facing Criticism

WKMS and The Courier-Journal — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 13:50:45 +0000

While Governor Steve Beshear is touting Kentucky’s new prescription drug abuse law, critics complain that the law's negative effects are being ignored. House Bill 1 requires doctors to meet stringent medical standards before prescribing controlled substances and mandates use of the KASPER drug tracking system.

Kentucky Joins Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Campaigns

The Associated Press — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 17:48:41 +0000

Several states hard hit by prescription drug abuse will work together to develop strategies to combat what authorities say is an ever-growing problem. Kentucky will join Alabama, Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, Oregon and Virginia in the initiative.

Alarming growth of KY drug-addicted newborns

Todd Hatton and The Associated Press — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 12:41:11 +0000

A recent report published in the Journal of the American Medical Association says the number of Kentucky newborns hospitalized for drug addiction passed on from their mothers has soared over the last decade. The study links the rise to the prescription pill epidemic in the Commonwealth, where hospitalizations for addicted newborns climbed from 29 in 2000 to 730 last year. The report says the national rates more than doubled over the same period. State officials and doctors say statistics include newborn withdrawals from all types of drugs, but they also blame prescription

Conway Ready to Rework HB-1

Kenny Colston (KPR) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:25:12 +0000

Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway says it may be time for lawmakers to take a second look at a tough prescription pill bill that passed earlier this year. Conway was a leading advocate of House Bill 1, which requires doctors to use the KASPER pill tracking system. But the Kentucky Medical Association has long opposed HB1.

Former Gov. Carroll Says Doctors Need to Cut Prescriptions

Dan Conti (KPR) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 17:16:00 +0000

A former Kentucky governor believes physicians have helped fuel the state’s problem with prescription drug abuse by over-prescribing medications.

Heroin's resurgence in Kentucky

Stu Johnson (KPR) — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:52:45 +0000

The varying forms of drug abuse have created challenges for both treatment and law enforcement professionals. Much attention across Kentucky in recent years has centered on a growing prescription drug abuse problem. State lawmakers have taken steps to crack down on improper pain clinics while also providing better communication within the medical profession about patients’ use of prescribed drugs. Michelle Lofwall (LAHF-wall) is a University of Kentucky psychiatrist who treats prescription drug users. She is beginning to see another al