Database would double-track drugs
A new database that will be instated by New York State will track the dispensing of addictive substances by pharmacists. Under the plan, pharmacy employees, not just doctors, would enter information regarding patients and the drugs they purchase. This tracking would supposedly stop the practice of “doctor shopping,” a method employed by some drug addicts to obtain drugs by moving from doctor to doctor. Some critics say that the system would bog down pharmacies with massive record keeping chores. “It will be cumbersome. There’s no question about that. The question is how cumbersome,” said Dr. Michael McGrath with Unity Health System of Rochester.
However, proponents say that the database is necessary to prevent abuse of powerful prescription drugs. “Opiate dependence is a very powerful condition and people are going to be driven to obtain the substances one way or another. This is one way it would start to interrupt the process, one way at least from our perspective people would be identified and referred to treatment more rapidly,” said Rick Briggs of Westfall Associates, an addiction treatment center.
The system will be implemented in 2013
A high near 80 today with a slight chance of showers. Tonight, mostly cloudy skies with a low around 60.
