Prescription Drug Abuse: Health Care Provider Compliance and DEA’s Role – More information on Pharmaceutical and Medical Devices: www.fulbright.com Presenter: Fulbright Healthcare Lawyer Rick Robinson | www.fulbright.com/rrobinson The Drug Enforcement Administration works with and sometimes against health care providers as it tries to stem the tide of prescription drug abuse. In 2009, the DEA estimated that, on average, 6027 persons per day abused prescription pain relievers for the first time. The Center for Disease Control now attributes more overdose deaths to prescription drugs—including opioids and antidepressants—than to “street drugs” such as cocaine, heroin and amphetamines. The DEA helps health care providers recognize drug abuse and signs of diversion, and relies on their input and due diligence to combat diversion. On the other hand, DEA has aggressively pursued criminal, civil and administrative actions against physicians who facilitate prescription drug abuse and the health care facilities that fail to take required actions to minimize the risk of drug diversion. Stepped-up DEA enforcement makes diversion control a critical compliance risk area for all health care providers. Join us for an informative discussion of the latest DEA initiatives, and learn how your compliance program must account for this heightened risk area. **Most state bar organizations will only allow you to claim self-study CLE credit for watching this recording. Please refer to your state’s CLE rules**

 

Heroin deaths rise as crackdown on prescription drug abuse succeeds

Filed under: drug abuse health

As efforts to crack down on the abuse of prescription drugs have worked, a new problem has emerged, with addicts who can no longer get their fix by popping pills turning to the old-fashioned street drug heroin, health and law enforcement officials say.
Read more on Baltimore Sun

 

Treating addiction as a public health issue, not a crime

Filed under: drug abuse health

Third, the abuse of legal drugs suggests an important “exit” to the war on drugs — in other words, viewing the problem of drug addiction as a public health problem and not as a criminal issue. Clearly, individuals who abuse drugs require not prison or …
Read more on Houston Chronicle (blog)