Inspired by the drug threads.....

[Blondie]

Seeing how some would like to see Marijuana legalized (it'll never happen as long as we have uptight DEA's and Politicians around) are you all aware of the new "Prescription Monitoring Program" that Bush just signed off on?

On Aug. 11, President Bush signed into law the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005. It authorizes 60 million taxpayer dollars over five years to establish electronic prescription drug surveillance programs in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It requires those dispensing controlled substances (such as pharmacists and physicians) to submit information to state governments within one week of filling prescriptions, including patients' names, addresses and telephone numbers. Data also will be collected on animal owners whose pets are prescribed controlled substances by veterinarians.

One more way to intrude on our privacy if you ask me.

Congress has stated the purpose of the law is to help physicians identify and treat prescription drug addiction and abuse.

Personally, I don't appreciate the fact that anyone with access to this database will be able to pull up every prescription I've had once this takes effect.

August 12, 2005 1:21 p.m. EST


Christina Ficara - All Headline News Staff Reporter

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - President Bush signed the "National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005" bill into law.

The Act requires the Department of Health and Human Services to award grants to States to establish or improve programs to electronically monitor dispensing of controlled substances.

With up to 50 million Americans in untreated pain, some groups believe that government monitoring would be irresponsible, counter productive and immoral.

Research also shows that illicit prescription drugs on the streets that are used both recreationally and for pain management by those who cannot find 'legal' sources for the medicines they need to deal with their pain, come primarily from importation and theft, not doctor's offices.

If you are getting any kind of narcotic to deal with post surgical pain, migraines, Fibromyalgia, etc. be it Tylenol with Codeine, Darvocet, Lortab, Percocet....be prepared to be stereotyped as a druggy when you go to fill your prescription. Big brother is watching.

 

[auntpolly]

Oh good lord -- how long until that man is out of office???????

 

[Christine]

HIPAA don't mean a thing....

 

[Blondie]

HIPAA won't mean a thing with the PMP in place.

 

[AllyandJack]

If I want to pop Xanax like they're candy, that's my business, not Bushie's.

I find it really funny that I need to beg a pharmacist for Benadryl and Alka Seltzer, but there is a measure to have morning-after contraception available OTC in MA. What is going on with this country?!?!

Hello, Government: Butt out!!!! What I take and how much of it I take is between me and my doctor(s). If I take too much and drop dead, oh well...again, MY choice. If I have a sinus headache or a cold, I don't need the 3rd degree from some pharmacy tech.

I just went through this today....I wanted Benadryl. I had to show ID and explain why I needed it.

 

[Blondie]

AllyandJack, it's going to get much, much worse.

One by one our freedoms are being taken away.

Be afraid, be very afraid!

 

[Christine]

If I want to pop Xanax like they're candy, that's my business, not Bushie's.

Agreed. And I swear someone told me that "Republican" mean "less government."

 

[halestrm]

If I want to pop Xanax like they're candy, that's my business, not Bushie's.

I find it really funny that I need to beg a pharmacist for Benadryl and Alka Seltzer, but there is a measure to have morning-after contraception available OTC in MA. What is going on with this country?!?!

Hello, Government: Butt out!!!! What I take and how much of it I take is between me and my doctor(s). If I take too much and drop dead, oh well...again, MY choice. If I have a sinus headache or a cold, I don't need the 3rd degree from some pharmacy tech.

I just went through this today....I wanted Benadryl. I had to show ID and explain why I needed it.

The Benadryl is because of Meth labs; it is a main ingredient. Here in PHX it is a HUGE issues. Labs blow in apt buildings, the houses in all classes of neighborhoods, etc. I don't like it, but I can understand.

I agree, don't like the prescrip database, but again, I understand it. I had an uncle with 8 doctors so he could get his meds in the doses he wanted. It ripped the family apart.

 

[auntpolly]

Agreed. And I swear someone told me that "Republican" mean "less government."

Must have been some republican.....

 

[AllyandJack]

Agreed. And I swear someone told me that "Republican" mean "less government."

There is a democrat in MA who wants to ban oxycontin....not just restrict it, but BAN it outright. Since when are these people, who are not doctors, able to make these sorts of decisions??

It's insane. I've come to the conclusion that no politician is normal. They can't possibly be normal. Democrat or Republican....they're all crazy. We are the only sane ones and we're the ones without the power.

It's not less government, it's just different government. They want to control everything (marriage...women's right to choose) and then scream "stay out of my wallet". They're all hypocrits.

I tend to vote Republican, too (I did vote for our Democrat Governor in NH)....mainly for financial reasons. What a disappointment from all angles.

 

[jrydberg]

Agreed. And I swear someone told me that "Republican" mean "less government."

Unfortunately, nowadays, neither Republicans nor Democrats want "less government."

 

[auntpolly]

The Benadryl is because of Meth labs; it is a main ingredient. Here in PHX it is a HUGE issues. Labs blow in apt buildings, the houses in all classes of neighborhoods, etc. I don't like it, but I can understand.

I agree, don't like the prescrip database, but again, I understand it. I had an uncle with 8 doctors so he could get his meds in the doses he wanted. It ripped the family apart.

How much money, time, and resources do we have to waste before we realize the war on drugs is unwinable?

All of the criminals would be put out of business tomorrow if we legalized drugs! Just teach your kids not to use them the same way you teach them not to smoke cigarettes and drink underage!!! They'll get it anyway if they want it!!!

 

[Christine]

There is a democrat in MA who wants to ban oxycontin....not just restrict it, but BAN it outright. Since when are these people, who are not doctors, able to make these sorts of decisions??

It's insane. I've come to the conclusion that no politician is normal. They can't possibly be normal. Democrat or Republican....they're all crazy. We are the only sane ones and we're the ones without the power.

It's not less government, it's just different government. They want to control everything (marriage...women's right to choose) and then scream "stay out of my wallet". They're all hypocrits.

I tend to vote Republican, too (I did vote for our Democrat Governor in NH)....mainly for financial reasons. What a disappointment from all angles.

A&J,
Agreed. For many years, I followed the Republican party and leaned that way. What I see now is something I no longer recognize.

Have any of you read the book "The Traveler" By John Twelve Hawk? Is was on the best seller list for awhile. If that doesn't get you, nothing will. It is very close to what is going on with the Patriot Act today and this new drug monitoring. The book takes place in the future--I think about 20-30 years after enactment of the Patriot Act. It is fiction, of course. But it is all about being tied to "The Grid" and how the government can track every move you make.

 

[Blondie]

Be prepared to see your physician's attitudes change in regards to prescribing meds as well.

The normal Xanax RX for fear of flying will turn into "have you tried something over the counter? Have you tried meditation? Have you tried Lipton's herbal tea?" Docs won't want their name up in lights on the PMP database. They won't want the hassle of filing the necessary info everytime they write out a scheduled drug.

What I'm worried about is this; say a patient has knee replacement surgery and needs several Vicodin prescriptions to help deal with the pain. Say this patient has 4 prescriptions for 20 Vicodins in a 3 month period. The DEA appointed PMP agents are going to be watching poor old Mrs. Smith because, gasp, she's taking Vicodin. Better set up a surveillance, she could be selling to children!

Our taxpayer dollars could be put to much better use.

 

[AllyandJack]

How much money, time, and resources do we have to waste before we realize the war on drugs is unwinable?

This is true....if they don't use the Benadryl, they'll find something else. Now some stores are putting cleaning products behind counters because some idiots inhale them for fun. Pretty soon, you're going to need ID and an excuse to buy Windex....bring the pictures of your dirty windows as proof. Where will it end? At some point, we have to expect people to learn to live in a world where Windex exists. We have to stop expecting the rest of the world to cater to the few who misuse products. We also have to start admitting that some people are going to inhale the Easy Off Oven Cleaner and some of them might die. That doesn't mean the rest of us have to stand in a line to prove we need the Easy Off. It's a really slippery slope. Maybe the government will start looking into our cleaning products next.

I don't have much to worry about since I'm not a very good cleaner.

 

[auntpolly]

I don't have much to worry about since I'm not a very good cleaner.

Me either!!! They could do a complete inventory or my cleaning products (knock yourself out, Bush)-- I'm just pissed that they'd make me pay for it!

 

[Blondie]

The war on drugs will never be won. As long as there is a buyer, there is a seller. They might make it harder to get, but it'll still be out there.

Oh, and I'm not a good cleaner either!

What do you think the street value is for Windex? I have several kinds too, streak free and potpourri scented. Think I can get more for the streak free?

 

[Jen_in_NH]

They can come inventory my cleaning products all they want, if they promise to use a few of them while they're there

Jen

 

[auntpolly]

They can come inventory my cleaning products all they want, if they promise to use a few of them while they're there

Jen

No, they are just going to make a big mess, grill you about what you are doing with all that liquid plumber, not put anything back, and then give you a bill for their time.

 

[wvrevy]

This just in...Rush Limbaugh not pleased.

But seriously, folks...does anybody get the feeling that George Orwell was off by a couple decades ?

What's next ? A government database with information about your high school children, including GPA, Social Security Number, E-mail address, and other contact information ?

Oh...wait...They already have that....