NM eyes plans to curb prescription drug abuse

The Santa Fe New Mexican reports (http://bit.ly/KQBpVv ) that the state Board of Pharmacy will consider various proposals, including one to increase the number of prescribers who use the state's prescription-drug monitoring program.

The move comes as New Mexico's overall drug-overdose death rate is the highest in the country. New statistics from the state Department of Health show a dramatic rise in the sale of opioid drugs, up 131 percent from 2001 to 2010.

"The board was very alarmed at the overdose rate in the state," said state Board of Pharmacy Director Bill Harvey. "We're very serious about reducing the amount of opioids or controlled substances that are available for abuse."

The plans also aim to better educate everyone involved about the dangers of overprescribing or becoming addicted to pills such as hydrocodone and OxyContin.

Under one proposal, practitioners including doctors, dentists, veterinarians, pharmacists and certified nurse practitioners would be required to register and train for the program when they complete their controlled-substance registration.

While that proposal doesn't require doctors to use the program, a separate proposal to be considered by the New Mexico Medical Board in August would require its use when certain controlled substances are prescribed to new patients. The rule also would apply to established patients who have continuing prescriptions for opioid pain relievers.