Tuesday, April 14, 2015

New App Allows Doctors, Pharmacists To Track Potential Prescription Drug Abuse

The Record, April 13, 2015

"Doctors and pharmacists can now use smart phones to track patients who might be abusing prescription drugs, state officials said Monday.

The app, available initially only to iPhone users and Apple handheld devices, will allow registered users of the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program access to the state’s database of prescriptions filled in New Jersey for controlled dangerous substances, including opiate painkillers and human growth hormone.

Registered users have been able to access the same records on state’s Web site since the monitoring program was launched in 2011.

'The more user-friendly we make the program. the more prescribers and pharmacists are going to use it,' acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said.

The announcement comes as state lawmakers work to advance legislation meant to expand state oversight of drug prescriptions, addressing criticism that it does not go far enough to curb the scourge of abuse. Doctors and pharmacists are not required to register with the program.

The app — the first of its kind in the country — allows users to look up a patients’ prescription history and to access their own records to determine if anyone has tried to fraudulently use their professional license to access prescriptions, according to the description on the state Web site." Read More.

The Governor's Prevention Partnership offers resources here to help prevent youth substance abuse.

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