Review of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in the United States

Prescription drug monitoring programs(PDMPs)collect prescription data on medications classified as federalcontrolled substances.The information is stored in a central database and can be accessed byauthorized users.Although programmatic detailsdiffer among states, i n general,all PDMPs are designed toassist in detecting and preventing abuse, misuse, and diversion of controlled substances.Specifically, programs are targeted toward reducing the incidenceof ‘doctor shopping’ which occurs when patients see multiple providers and pharmacies with the intent of obtaining controlled substances for misuse and/or diversion(1) . Health careprofessionalswho prescribeor dispense controlled substancescan access PDMP databaseswithincreasingease and efficiency.Since the advent of electronic prescription drug monitoring systems, access can occuratthe point of careand can assistprescribers and dispensersinmaking treatment decisions.Patients’reporteduse of scheduledmedications can be confirmed by accessing PDMP reports, allowing prescribers and dispensers to detect individuals who may befeigning illnesses in an effort to acquire drugs for the purpose of abuse or diversion.The termprescriberas used in this reportincludesphysicians, dentists, nurse practitionersand other health care professionalsauthorizedto prescribe controlled substances; the term dispenser refers to those individualswhodispense controlled subst ances, the vast majority of whomarecommunity pharmacists.