Improve Monitoring and Surveillance
Monitoring refers to a continuous, dynamic process of data collection and analysis. Surveillance is an extension of monitoring in which collected data is utilized and the appropriate steps are taken to address the issue. Improved monitoring and surveillance includes greater awareness and use of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) by physicians, pharmacists, law enforcement agencies, and others. If used properly, PDMPs are one tool to help reduce prescription drug misuse, abuse, and diversion. State licensing boards can also adopt rules to establish standards and protocols in the prescribing of controlled substances.
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Provider & Clinical Resources
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Community Resources
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Policy Resources
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Final Report: North Carolina Needs to Strengthen Its System for Monitoring and Preventing the Abuse of Prescribed Controlled Substances
The Joint Legislative Program Evaluation Oversight Committee directed the Program Evaluation Division to evaluate the efficiency and effectiveness of North Carolina's system for monitoring and preventing the abuse of prescribed controlled substances.
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Examining How State Substance Abuse Agencies Use Data to Manage Systems
This 11-state case study is intended to develop an understanding of how states manage their SUD service systems through data utilization.
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Policy Brief: Prescription Monitoring Programs
As PDMPs have developed, a number of key features have emerged as considerations for policymakers intent on optimizing their PDMPs.
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Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: Tools for Education, Epidemiological Surveillance, Prevention, and Early Intervention
To encourage wider use of PDMPs in public health, this issue brief provides state public health agencies with fundamental information on PDMPs and how they may be used to improve public health, particularly in education, surveillance, prevention, and early intervention.
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Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs: An Assessment of the
Evidence for Best Practices
Background on PDMPs and a conceptual framework for assessing effectiveness, and a discussion of evidence that presents best practices for PDMP implementation and use.
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Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs - A Response to Doctor Shopping: Purpose, Effectiveness and Directions for Future Research
Literature review analyzing four themes, including: (1) the effect of PDMPs on prescribing practices and the effect of PDMPs on the public, (2) the effect of PDMPs on prescribing practices and multiple provider episodes, (3) the effect of PDMPs on prescribing practices and characteristics of patients, and (4) health care professionals’ perspectives on PDMPs.
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Technical Assistance Guide No. 04-13 Funding Options for Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs
A guide on funding options to help PDMPs remain operational in a time of state budget cuts.
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Do Prescription Monitoring Programs Impact State Trends in Opioid Abuse and Misuse?
Results from this study support an association between PDMPs and mitigated opioid abuse and misuse trends. Without a PDMP in place, Poison Center intentional exposures increased 1.9% per quarter. Opioid treatment admissions increase 4.9% per quarter in states without a PDMP.
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See Policy Resources for all Intervention types »
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Special Populations Resources
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