Current Trends in Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Robert J. Valuck, PhD, RPh
Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Pharmacy Director of the Program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, UCHSC, School of Pharmacy

Robert Valuck is an Associate Professor in the Department of Clinical Pharmacy at the University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, and Director of the School's Program in Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research. He teaches in the Pharm.D. and Ph.D. programs at CU, as well as conducting Phase IV (post-marketing) outcomes research studies, primarily in the area of psychiatric disorders and medications.

Susan L. Warren, JD, MPH
Director – Colorado Board of Pharmacy, Department of Regulatory Agencies

Ms. Warren received her B.S. and J.D. from the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, NE. She worked as a trial attorney at the Colorado Attorney General's Office for 10 years, and then received her Master's in Public Health from Harvard University. She has since worked in management in state government for 13 years and is currently Program Director at the Colorado Board of Pharmacy. She sits on the Board of Directors of the Colorado Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force.

Joseph P. Ramos, MD
Emergency Service Physicians, Lutheran Medical Center, Senior Clinical Instructor, Department of Surgery, UCHSC, Spine & Injury Centers, Founder/President Injury Clinics of Colorado, Founder/President

Dr. Ramos completed his Bachelor of Science of degree at the University of Nevada, Reno, and attended medical school at the institution's School of Medicine. He then completed an Internal Medicine Internship at University Medical Center in Las Vegas where he was named Outstanding Resident for his outpatient clinical skills. Dr. Ramos later went on to become board certified in Emergency Medicine, completing his specialty training at Denver Health Medical Center, one of the most notable Emergency Medicine programs in the country.

RxSchool is NOT the Provider of CME credit for this CE.

Susan Warren JD, MPH, declares that she has no direct nor indirect financial or other relationship with any agencies providing funding or sponsorship for this program.

Robert Valuck, PhD, RPh declares that he has no direct nor indirect financial or other relationship with any agencies providing funding or sponsorship for this program.

Joseph Ramos, MD, declares that he has no direct nor indirect financial or other relationship with any agencies providing funding or sponsorship for this program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this program, participants should be able to:

• Identify the scope of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. and the situations where prescription drug 'scamming' are most likely to occur.
• Identify the major components of electronic reporting systems and how they are used.
• Delineate how an electronic reporting system might assist them in avoiding 'scamming' situations.
• Discuss the problem of prescription drug abuse with other providers in an effort to educate and inform providers how to avoid it.
• List commonly abused and/or diverted drugs in the United States.
• Describe the operation of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs (PDMPs) in at least two states.
• Discuss the strengths and limitations of PDMPs for reducing drug abuse/diversion.
• Describe ways in which PDMPs have been shown to be effective in reducing drug abuse/diversion.
• Define what a 'Prescription Drug Monitoring Program' (PDMP) consists of.
• Describe how physicians and patients benefit from the implementation and use of a PDMP.
• Explain the trends in prescription drug abuse in the United States and factors that may be contributing to this.
• Outline the current options available in Colorado for identifying abusers of prescription medications. How would a PDMP change your options?