State prescription monitoring program and the opioid problem

In Wednesday article, “Gunman was prescribed anti-anxiety medication,” a reference is made to the Nevada Prescription Monitoring Program and tells us the exact date and specifics of the two times the shooter was prescribed Valium. I find this very troubling.

The opioid problem in Nevada (and everywhere) is out of control. Some patients are forced to beg pharmacists for our pain medication. I’ve noted for years that the DEA has the ability to see which doctors, patients or pharmacies are dispensing or receiving large amounts of opioid prescriptions. Now we know the information is available immediately, so how about we stop harassing the folks in severe pain and use this “program” to weed out the problem doctors or pharmacies? I guess it’s easier to blame the patient.