Oklahomans' addiction to prescription drugs is epidemic — one in eight residents abuse painkillers. These controlled drugs are coming from physicians known by patients, who go from one doctor to the next stocking up on more meds than they need.
In 2012, 534 Oklahomans died from overdoses of prescription drugs. With that kind of preventable statistic, you'd think the Legislature would move quickly to stop doctor shopping.
Not so fast.
Rep. David Derby, chairman of the House Public Health Committee, wouldn't allow a prescription monitoring bill to be heard last week during the panel's final gathering before a deadline for committee approval.
The proposal would require doctors to check the state Prescription Monitoring Program database before writing new or refill prescriptions for narcotics such as hydrocodone and oxycodone. People in real need wouldn't be denied, just those shopping for illegitimate or other purposes.
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Derby was under pressure from medical associations whose membership don't support regulations requiring the prior check. Doctors who fail to do this would faced a $2,000 fine for each infraction. Physicians complain that regulations would be too time-consuming.
According to an April 8 story by Oklahoma Watch reporter Warren Vieth and The Oklahoman's Jaclyn Cosgrove, nearly 600 million doses of controlled drugs were prescribed in 2012, but prescribers only logged onto the online monitoring program, overseen by the Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, 1.2 million times.
The prescription monitoring bill is by Rep. Doug Cox, R-Grove, a seasoned emergency room physician. His legislation has the full backing of Gov. Mary Fallin. Cox told Oklahoma Watch reporters that he was "frustrated that doctors are so resistant, because we're talking about what's best for the patient and what's best for our state."
Taking a few minutes to check to see if your patient is already on a prescription narcotic before writing a prescription for more seems like it's not only in the public's interest, but also in the patient's medical interest, which is supposed to be the doctor's primary focus.
Derby, a forensic chemist, claims that he's not opposed to reconsidering the legislation if both sides can reach a compromise. We hope he has a chance to prove that.
David Derby
