Prescription Drug Database to Go Online

Overcoming a bid dispute that left it in limbo and political wrangling that left its very existence in doubt, Florida's prescription drug monitoring program (PDMP) is poised to be up and running.

The Department of Health is set to run the prescription drug database, which has been touted by law enforcement officials and legislators who signed it into law two years ago as a vital tool to combat doctor shoppers and physicians who overprescribe powerful pain medications, such as oxycodone, that are normally reserved for patients with severe pain, like cancer patients. The "legal" way of obtaining a heroin-like high has contributed to overdose deaths, advocates of the PDMP say, which amount to seven people per day in Florida.

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, has been a staunch supporter of the database, but it ran into resistance from Gov. Rick Scott and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, who cited privacy concerns over the program. A bid dispute between companies vying to run the program delayed the start of the PDMP, but that was resolved earlier this year by the ruling of an administrative court judge.

"The database will provide 'shock and awe' in Florida's efforts to end the criminal abuse of legal prescription drugs. In addition to the Senate's commitment to the database, pending legislation will strengthen the prescription drug monitoring program and provide even stronger privacy protections for individual Floridians," Haridopolos said.

The PDMP will be funded by the private sector, as Purdue Pharma, the maker of OxyContin, one of the powerful pain killers involved in many of the overdoses, has pledged $1 million toward the database, which will keep it running for two years.

Florida's top law enforcement official has also been a vocal proponent of the program.

"Stopping pill mills has been my top priority since I took office, and the prescription drug monitoring program that the Department of Health will now be implementing is an important tool in combating this crisis. As part of a criminal investigation, the program will enable law enforcement to act more quickly in identifying and arresting pill mill operators," said Attorney General Pam Bondi.