Analyzing the Impact of Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs in Reducing the Epidemic of Drug Abuse

This project will investigate the role of prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMPs) in reducing epidemic rates of prescription drug abuse.

The project will build upon existing PHLR data conducting detailed investigations to determine the interrelationships between patients, prescribers, and pharmacies where high-risk behaviors are observed. They will work to quantify how PDMP laws impact a variety of these measures, and they will evaluate whether specific features of states' PDMP laws are responsible for any impact observed. This study will assess to what degree, through the creation of PDMPs, law has the capacity to influence prescription drug prescribing, dispensing, and utilization.