Pubdate: Mon, 17 Dec 2001
Source: Connecticut Post (CT)
Copyright: 2001sMediaNews Group, Inc
Contact:  http://www.ctpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/574

TRACKING DRUGS

Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal merits praise for taking 
the initial step to tracking illegal prescriptions and sales of legal 
narcotics like the painkiller OxyContin.

Last week, Blumenthal spoke at the State Capitol explaining that his 
proposed electronic monitoring system could stop "doctor shopping," a 
practice where people illegally go from one doctor to another getting 
several prescriptions for the painkiller. If enacted into law, Connecticut 
would join 15 other states, including New York, Massachusetts and Rhode 
Island, with some kind of prescription monitoring system for controlled 
substances.

OxyContin would not be the only painkiller to be tracked, rather other 
potentially addictive drugs would also be covered in the tracking system.

There's clearly a need in Connecticut for such tracking. Prescriptions for 
legal narcotic pain relievers rose 23 percent in Connecticut from 1996 to 
last year while OxyContin rose a whopping 1,800 percent according the 
attorney general's office.

Blumenthal's proposed monitoring system appeared to have guarded support 
from drug company executives as well as backing from government officials 
and patients. We urge the General Assembly to embrace the proposal and take 
seriously the problem of illegal drug taking.
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MAP posted-by: Beth