Under "tracking and monitoring", the plan notes that 43 states have prescription monitoring database plans but only 35 are operational. Some good news: It says PDMP data cannot be used in court.
As to enforcement, there will be greater information sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement, particularly DOJ, DEA, HHS and State Medical Boards. The feds will continue to "aggressively" pursue "pain clinics and prescribers who are not prescribing within the usual course of practice and not for legitimate medical purposes.
- Increase HIDTA intelligence-gathering and investigation of prescription drug trafficking, and increase joint investigations by Federal, state, and local agencies
- Identify and seek to remove administrative and regulatory barriers to “pill mill” and prescriber investigations that impair investigations while not serving another public policy goal. (ONDCP/ DOJ/DEA/HHS/FDA)
- Expand the use of PDMP data to identify criminal prescribers and clinics by the volume of selected drugs prescribed. Encourage best practices for PDMPs, such as PDMP reporting of such prescribers and clinics to pharmacies, law enforcement, and insurance providers. (DOJ/DEA)
- Use PDMP data to identify “doctor shoppers” by their numbers of prescribers or pharmacies. Encourage best practices such as identifying such individuals to their prescribers and pharmacies, law enforcement and insurance providers. (DOJ/BJA)
- Increase by 25 percent the number of HIDTAs involved in intelligence gathering and investigation around prescription drug trafficking and participation on statewide and regional prescription drug task forces within 24 months;
The five year goal: a "15 percent reduction in non-medical use of prescription-type psychotherapeutic drugs in the past year among people 12 years of age and older."
The FDA's Opioid Drugs and Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) is here.
Obama's proposed 2012 Drug Enforcement Control budget is here. The DEA's proposed 2012 budget is here. For the DEA's Diversion Control (prescription drug) program:
DEA requests 124 positions, including 50 Special Agents, 50 Diversion Investigators, and 9 Intelligence Analysts, and $30,885,000 to support regulatory and enforcement activities of the Diversion Control Program. This request includes $9,393,000 in non-personnel funding for rent, task force officer overtime, administrative support, and training for Tactical Diversion Squads (TDS). These resources will support DEA’s efforts to fulfill both the regulatory control and enforcement aspects of the Diversion Control Program.
Diversion budget, just for the DEA: $322 million. (page 22.)