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Report Clarifies Serious Problem with Prescription Drug Abuse in SC
According to a new report from the state’s attorney general, South Carolina is 10th in the nation for prescription drug abuse and pain killer addiction, but there is no plan in place to fight the problem.
Prescription drug abuse is a growing problem all over the United States. However, according to the recent report, at least six states around South Carolina have plans to fight prescription drug abuse. In fact, drug fighting plans in Kentucky and Florida have resulted in several rogue pain clinics closing, and a 20% drop in prescription drug abuse.
The state’s Medicaid agency asked for the review, due to its increased spending on opioid painkillers such as Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.
South Carolina has a statewide database that tracks painkiller prescriptions, but physical and pharmacy participation in the program is not mandatory. The report states that “only 22 percent of physicians are registered and much fewer actually use it for prescription decisions.” Additionally, the state’s “pain management guidelines” give physicians a great deal of leeway when prescribing pain killers or other drugs. The report states that the leniency of the guidelines allows “physicians broad discretion in their application, which in turn allows naïve and pill-mill doctors to unintentionally flourish.”
Inspector General Patrick J. Maley wrote in the report that “State authorities do not have a rigorous, systematic understanding of South Carolina’s painkiller problem … However, from ad hoc national data, South Carolina clearly has a significant problem that is likely worse than an average state.”
Maley quoted studies showing that South Carolina ranked 10th in the nation for prescription drug abuse – that’s 33% higher than the national average. In 2011, the state reported 225 deaths related to painkiller and prescription drug abuse, which is 23rd in the nation.
Maley is a 30-year veteran of the FBI, and became attorney general for the state last year.
Currently, no one state agency exists to fight prescription drug abuse. However, Maley suggested three departments that already exist which could take on the problem: DHEC, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
Attorney General’s Recommendations for Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse in South Carolina
Maley made several suggestions to fight prescription drug abuse throughout the state.
“The cornerstone to start turning the tide on this epidemic is to reduce the excess supply of prescription drugs causing addiction, rather than medical benefit, emanating from the physician prescription pad, both from unscrupulous pill mills and unwittingly naive physicians,” Maley wrote in his 27-page report.
Maley recommended that the state require all doctors and pharmacists to participate in South Carolina’s Prescription Monitoring Program. The mandate could be phased in over a few years, Maley suggested, starting with doctors who prescribe the most painkillers.
He also recommended that all doctors who prescribe painkillers go through prescription training, that oversight of prescription drug clinics be improved, and a thorough analysis of all prescription drug-related deaths.
“This is a drug problem, but unlike the $15 billion a year the United States spends for the war on illegal drugs like cocaine, heroin and meth, the government actually controls the drug supply,” Maley wrote.
Rob Godfrey, spokesman for Governor Nikki Haley, said the governor looked forward to working with agencies and legislators to address the issues in the attorney general’s report.
The Strom Law Firm Protects Against Prescription Drug Abuse Charges
Being arrested for prescription drug abuse is something that can be devastating financially and emotionally, and can have long-lasting personal and professional consequences.We understand what you are going through, and we are here to help.
Whether you are charged with:
• Prescribing or writing Illegal prescriptions,
• Doctor Shopping or attempting to obtain drugs by fraud or deceit,
• Illegally possessing prescription drugs,
• Selling prescription drugs, or
• Stealing or Forging Prescriptions for drugs,
Contact the prescription fraud attorneys at the Strom Law Firm, LLCtoday for a free consultation to discuss the facts of your case. We will investigate your case from every angle, determine whether an illegal search took place and seek to have your charges reduced or even dismissed.
