The Use of Prescription Monitoring Programs to Reduce Opioid Diversion and Improve Patient Safety

Abstract

An increase in the prescribing of opioids in an effort to improve management of chronic pain has led to enhanced availability of controlled substances for diversion and abuse. Evidence suggests that the use of prescription monitoring programs (PMPs) may help curtail this growing public health issue. The current use of PMPs varies widely from state to state but there have been important changes improving interconnectivity of PMPs across states. This paper describes current data on the effect of prescription monitoring programs on reducing abuse and diversion of controlled substances. It also offers suggestions on how PMPs may be incorporated into practice and clinical decision-making to ensure appropriate pain management and patient safety.

Unintentional Home Injuries Across the Life Span: Problems and Solutions

“…Preliminary evaluations are under way in several states. Early evaluations demonstrate that these programs have been effective at reducing the diversion of controlled substances (29,42,89,133). For example, policy changes in Florida from 2010 to 2012, which resulted in the shutdown of pain clinics and prescribing dispensers statewide, resulted in a significant decrease in deaths resulting from prescription drug overdoses (65).…”

Improving opioid prescription practices and reducing patient risk in the primary care setting

“…If available, query the state prescription drug monitoring program and/or contact past medical providers and obtain past medical records to corroborate the history provided by the patient and assess for signs of aberrant drug-related behaviors. Use of the prescription drug monitoring program has been demonstrated to aid in reducing opioid misuse/abuse, diversion, and overdose 33. Evaluate for evidence of physiological tolerance or hyperalgesia if a patient is on a high dose of opioids.…”

Prescriber response to unsolicited prescription drug monitoring program reports in Massachusetts

“…Prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) help address nonmedical use of CS . PDMPs are statewide electronic databases that collect information from community and outpatient pharmacies on dispensed CS prescriptions.…”