Pharmageddon: State legislative efforts to combat pharmaceutical drug misuse

Prescription drug abuse, now an epidemic, is the fastest growing drug problem in the United States.(1)Prescription drugs have accounted for most of the increase in drug overdose death rates since 1999.(2) In 2009, there were more emergency department visits for misuse of pharmaceuticals (1.2 million) than those related to illicit drug use (1 million).(2) The issue of prescription drug misuse reached the national agenda in April of 2011 when the Obama Administration unveiled the 2011 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan which is the first comprehensive federal plan for controlling the intentional misuse of doctor-authorized medications.(3) With increased Federal support, states are strengthening efforts to regulate use of prescription drugs and the practices of those prescribing them, prompting the passage of state legislation aimed at controlling this ever-increasing problem. This presentation will examine state legislation focused on controlling prescription drug misuse, utilizing legal databases to identify and describe the relevant laws. Furthermore, prescription drug abuse rates will be examined across states as well as across various age groups made available through National data sources and publications such as the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH). This will allow us to assess differences in rates among states with and without legislation pertaining to misused prescription drugs. The implication of these laws will be described, including how they can serve as an essential tool for raising awareness of this critical issue and also serve as a basis for decisions around future policy efforts to reverse this epidemic. (1)http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6101a3.htm (2)http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6043a4.htm (3)http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/Obama-Administration-Says-Prescription-Drug-Abuse-Fastest-Growing-Drug-120270059.html