Authorities who deal with state efforts to monitor and clamp down on misuse of controlled substances just got an important reminder that the solution to the nation’s growing prescription drug abuse and overdose problem lies in a comprehensive public health approach that emphasizes treatment.
Law enforcement professionals, state regulators and officials who oversee prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) at the National Association of State Controlled Substance Authorities annual conference at the end of October were urged to pursue comprehensive measures to reduce drug abuse, diversion, overdose and death.
“There are many interrelated policy and practice components to effectively combat prescription drug abuse and diversion,” AMA Board of Trustees Member Patrice A. Harris, MD, said during a presentation to this influential group.
“That is why a public health focus—and ongoing collaboration with all stakeholders—is essential to helping reduce overdose and death, increase treatment and prevention, and ensure that patients needing access to pain medication are not adversely affected,” Dr. Harris said.
As the director of Health Services for Atlanta and the entirety of Fulton County, Georgia, Dr. Harris is no stranger to public health. She highlighted four components of an overall strategy for addressing prescription drug misuse that will help make a difference.
Enhanced education
Dr. Harris said there is a pressing need to help prescribers, dispensers and patient identify the risks of inappropriate drug use to prevent overdose and death.
On the physician side, the AMA has been sharing best practices and guidelines, and working with other medical associations to help ensure that everyone can benefit from the most recent information about safe and effective prescribing of controlled substances. In particular, Dr. Harris stressed that education must be targeted to physician practices and must start at the onset of every health care professional’s career.
Increased access to treatment
A necessary part of preventing unintentional overdoses is ensuring that people with substance use disorder have access to the treatment they need.
Overdose intervention measures
Prevention efforts also must include legislative and public health initiatives that enable intervention at the time of overdose. That includes making the opioid overdose reversal drug naloxone available and enacting “Good Samaritan” provisions that allow others to aid an overdose victim. At least nine states this year have enacted such laws.
Clinical decision-making support
Dr. Harris also explained how PDMPs that have been appropriately funded and successfully integrated into physician practices can be effective in helping identify potential drug-seeking behaviors. Physicians then are able to provide additional counseling and referral services as needed. The AMA supports the use of such PDMPs as a part of the clinical decision-making process.
Visit the AMA’s Web page on combating prescription drug abuse to learn more about the association’s efforts on this important issue.
