Logo of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. . (Photo credit: Wikipedia) |
This past week Reuters reported that the Obama Administration is launching a new pilot program which will "make it easier for doctors, pharmacists and emergency departments to access patients' prescription drug records, aiming to stem a rising tide of deadly abuse."
Here are some facts to consider:
- Currently 49 US states have authorized or passed legislation to create prescription drug monitoring systems.
- Prescription drug overdoses are now the leading cause of accidental deaths in the United States, more than those resulting from car accidents, heroin abuse and cocaine abuse combined.
According to Marty Allain, a senior director at the Indiana Board of Pharmacy: "We're trying to make it as convenient as possible" by merging the government data with the electronic health record systems already being used in medical practices and pharmacies.
This pilot program is the first step on a very long journey, with each step more lives will be saved and more people will seek treatment for their addiction as opposed to seeking sources for pills.
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