NACDS submits statement on its members’ efforts to curb drug abuse
ALEXANDRIA, Va. In preparation of Wednesday’s by the U.S. Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs and the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control entitled “Generation Rx: The Abuse of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Drugs,” the National Association of Chain Drug Stores submitted a statement for the record.
Among the contents of the statement, the Association commended Senator Joe Biden, D-Del. “We thank Chairman Biden, and members of the Subcommittee and Caucus on International Narcotics Control, for the opportunity to provide this statement on the abuse of prescription and over-the-counter drugs. As healthcare providers of these critical and highly beneficial products, we are deeply concerned about the problem of consumers’ using these products in potentially harmful ways. We will continue to work with Congress and the administration to find solutions to curb drug abuse.”
In the statement, NACDS shared that its members have taken to restricting access to methamphetamine precursors, implementing age restrictions on dextromethorphan and dihydroepiandrosterone products, and working with states to implement prescription monitoring programs.
NACDS also stressed their commitment to working with Congress to craft legislation that will shut down rogue Internet operators while still allowing legitimate pharmacies to function. In addition, the association urged Congress to work with the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration to issue regulations allowing the electronic prescribing of controlled substances.
E-prescribing, NACDS stated, offers numerous benefits that can help reduce the abuse of controlled substances. “A paperless prescribing system is preferable to today’s paper world because it adds new dimensions of safety and efficiency to current practice. Moreover, electronic prescribing offers enhanced controlled substance reporting and monitoring capabilities that allow the DEA, as well as state and local law enforcement agencies, the ability to identify potential abuse immediately.”