THE STATE IS SEEING
SIGNIFICANT CHANGES.
>> I THINK IT'S THE BEGINNING OF
SOME GOOD NEWS.
REPORTER: SHE MANAGES THE
PRESCRIPTION DRUG MONITORING
PROGRAM IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
IT'S ONLY BEEN AROUND SINCE
2014.
>> FORTUNATELY THE STATE CAME TO
ITS TIPPING POINT AND WHEN WE
GOT TO THAT TIPPING POINT IT
FELT INTO PLAY.
REPORTER: THE PDMP IS FUNDED BY
A $250,000 FEDERAL GRANT.
THIS YEAR THE STATE LEGISLATURE
APPROVED 130,000 IN FUNDING FOR
UPGRADES.
BUT THERE IS NO LINE ITEM.
DRUG PRESCRIBERS AND DISPENSERS
ARE REQUIRED TO BE REGISTERED.
BUT GETTING IN TO USE THE
PROGRAM TOOK SOME CONVINCING.
>> THE USE OF THE PDMP IS MAKING
MORE INFORMATION AVAILABLE TO US
SO WE CAN BETTER TAKE CARE OF
OUR PATIENTS, AND ADDRESS THOSE
WHO WE CAN IDENTIFY AS DOCTOR
SHOPPING OR THOSE WHO ARE
OVERUSING PRESCRIPTIONS.
REPORTER: ACCORDING TO THE
ANNUAL REPORT, PRESCRIBED
OPIOIDS HAVE DECREASED BY
5 MILLION DOSES IN THE PAST 12
MONTHS.
>> THE BEST PRACTICES ARE START
LOW AND GO SLOW.
THAT'S WHAT THE C. D. C. SAYS
AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE EMBRACING
THAT.
REPORTER: THE REPORT ALSO SHOWS
A DECREASE IN DOCTOR SHOPPING
WHERE PATIENTS GET DRUGS FROM
FIVE OR MORE PRESCRIBERS.
FROM A HIGH OF 35 PATIENTS
FLAGGED IN 2015 DOWN TO 12
DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD IN
2016.
>> SO THEY'RE TAKING THIS
SERIOUSLY.
I REALLY THINK THE PRESCRIBERS
IN OUR STATE ARE GOING TO B
VERY MUCH A BIG ROLE IN CHANGING
THIS CRISIS IN OUR STATE.
>> IT'S A WONDERFUL THING TO
SEE, THERE'S LOTS OF PEOPLE
WORKING ON TRYING TO INFLUENCE
PRESCRIBING PATTERNS.
REPORTER: IN JANUARY A NEW LAW
WILL G INTO EFFECT HERE IN NEW
HAMPSHIRE THAT MANDATES THE USE
OF THAT PRESCRIPTION DRUG
MONITORING PROGRAM WITH EVERY
NEW PAIN PRESCRIPTION.
AND IF A PATIENT IS O LONG-TERM
OPIOID PRESCRIPTIONS,
PRESCRIBERS ARE REQUIRED TO
