On Oct. 17, Stone County Commissioners unanimously voted to implement a county-wide Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), joining the St. Louis County efforts to combat the growing opioid epidemic.
A PDMP is designed to serve an essential function in combating prescription drug abuse through the collection of data from pharmacies on controlled substance prescriptions that have been dispensed. This information is then made available to authorized users through a secure, electronically accessible database.
“PDMPs are an evidence-based prevention strategy that can assist health care providers and pharmacists with the identification of patients who might be at risk for developing a substance use disorder,” says Substance Abuse Initiative Project Coordinator Marietta Hagan.
Hagan was among a group of community leaders and concerned citizens who came together for the meeting to express their support of the program. Many in the room recognized that a PDMP is not a stand-alone solution, but instead, one of many tools that can be utilized.
“Stone County Health Department stands behind the decision of the commissioners for the good of the citizens of Stone County,” says Pam Burnett, Stone County Health Department administrator. “The health department is committed to this effort and is prepared to administratively support it.”
An executive order signed by Governor Eric Greitens in July of this year has a different focus, target audience and process and will not impact the operations of a local PDMP. The executive order is prescriber focused and has the potential for enforcement.
The goals of a local PDMP are:
The Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative is a project of Cox Medical Center Branson and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.
A PDMP is designed to serve an essential function in combating prescription drug abuse through the collection of data from pharmacies on controlled substance prescriptions that have been dispensed. This information is then made available to authorized users through a secure, electronically accessible database.
“PDMPs are an evidence-based prevention strategy that can assist health care providers and pharmacists with the identification of patients who might be at risk for developing a substance use disorder,” says Substance Abuse Initiative Project Coordinator Marietta Hagan.
Hagan was among a group of community leaders and concerned citizens who came together for the meeting to express their support of the program. Many in the room recognized that a PDMP is not a stand-alone solution, but instead, one of many tools that can be utilized.
“Stone County Health Department stands behind the decision of the commissioners for the good of the citizens of Stone County,” says Pam Burnett, Stone County Health Department administrator. “The health department is committed to this effort and is prepared to administratively support it.”
An executive order signed by Governor Eric Greitens in July of this year has a different focus, target audience and process and will not impact the operations of a local PDMP. The executive order is prescriber focused and has the potential for enforcement.
The goals of a local PDMP are:
- Improve controlled substance prescribing by providing critical information regarding a patient’s controlled substance prescription history;
- Inform clinical practice by identifying patients at high-risk who would benefit from early interventions, and;
- Reduce the number of people who misuse, abuse or overdose while making sure patients have access to safe, effective treatment.
The Stone and Taney Counties Substance Abuse Initiative is a project of Cox Medical Center Branson and funded by a Skaggs Legacy Endowment grant.
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