Controlled Substance Tracking - National Database: Update

[Low Testosterone]

Some of you may recall I mentioned several months ago that there would soon be a way for all pharmacies to track where an individual is getting a controlled substance. If an individual receives a controlled substance from one pharmacy and then gets another prescription from another doctor and tries to fill that prescription at another pharmacy, he would be flagged.

This system is almost now fully in place. Very few pharmacies are not connected, but all will be in the next few months. Anyone receiving a testosterone RX from one pharmacy and tries to get another from a different pharmacy when they are not due for a refill or new RX will risk being blacklisted from purchasing controlled substances.

This was put into place to help control and curb painkiller abuse but applies equally to testosterone and other steroid hormones. Anything that is classified as Schedule II or III.

For those who doubt this being possible, I have witnessed several individuals flagged in the last two wks.

I understand a lot of you are simply looking for legitimate TRT but I'm sure just as many are seeking out a way to get all the testosterone they want. This is not the way to do it.

[kelkel]

Sounds like a good program to me.

[Java Man]

Yep. It's about time. The.technology has been around for 20 years at least.

[FRDave]

I assumed they would be able to tell in cases like this. Never thought you could double up by going to different dr's.

[Low Testosterone]

I assumed they would be able to tell in cases like this. Never thought you could double up by going to different dr's.

People do it all the time and have for years. It's a much larger problem for pain pills but any controlled substance falls into the same basket as far as this is concerned.

[phaedo]

Huh... interesting. I already thought most pharmacies participate in some sort of patient reporting program with law enforcement. Perhaps there are some States that already implement something similar to the new Federal registry; I dunno. Or perhaps I'm paranoid lol.

Is the National Database concerned with all prescriptions or just controlled substances? I wonder the additional cost (or benefit) to monitor and record anything from birth control to anti-depressants to steroids to pain killers?

Lastly, is there time-frame to refill controlled substances compared to uncontrolled? I believe where I live, I can fill a script within seven days of the actual refill date. Is this generally a State ordinance or do Federal rules apply as well?

[bullshark99]

Very good thing, amazing the stories you would hear about people Dr shopping for pain meds and going for a different Dr apt once a week.

[bass]

usually pharmacies call the doc to confirm the order, if the doc receives two call from different pharmacies I would think that would raise a flag, unless of course someone goes to two different doctors! but glad this system is in place, although I am guilty of doing it, not on purpose, actually every time I changes doctors they gave me a script without asking for it, so I said nothing. now I have extra for rainy days.

[lovbyts]

usually pharmacies call the doc to confirm the order, if the doc receives two call from different pharmacies I would think that would raise a flag, unless of course someone goes to two different doctors! but glad this system is in place, although I am guilty of doing it, not on purpose, actually every time I changes doctors they gave me a script without asking for it, so I said nothing. now I have extra for rainy days.

What people are doing though is getting prescriptions from 2 different doctors (or more) and going to 2 different pharmacies (or more). Not by accident but on purpose and all the time, multiple times a month. From what I have heard some dont even use them, they do it for $$$

I agree, sounds like a great idea. I hope it will in some way lower the cost of prescriptions.

I believe in the past my doctor has given me my prescription for Testosterone but yesterday he said they had to fax it over to the pharmacy since it's a controlled substance but yet my other doctor who gives me a different type of controlled substance prescription just gave me written prescripts (3 total) for 3 months, one for each month claiming they cant fax it and it has to be hand delivered. Strange.

[NEFLRick]

Meh. Sounds like just another thing to put more people behind bars rather than actually help them. The war on drugs is an absolute joke.

How about doing something to help all of the people addicted to pain meds rather than trying to find them to put them in jail? I've never been on pain meds (thankfully) but I know a LOT who have been and many of them develop problems.

Better yet, how about pushing the drug companies to actually develop a better pain med? Like, maybe one which isn't so friggin' addictive?

Honestly, I couldn't care less if some juice head is going to get more testosterone because he wants to get bigger.

On the surface these things always seem to make sense but, when you dig deeper, maybe not so much. They spend BILLIONS of dollars to put people behind bars because of drugs and a FRACTION of that to help them get off/stay off drugs. Oh wait, prisons are private for profit entities now. Wouldn't want to have less prisoners now, would we?

But I digress.....

[bullshark99]

Nef,

Sometimes people do NOT want help thus the powers of addiction. I would submit to you the purpose here is to help people ultimately not put them in jail. When A person Dr shops, goes to 5 different Drs and 5 different pharmacies, this individual is not only breaking the law, acting unethical by lying to Drs but most importantly has a serious drug problem. I for one feel this will curb this problem a great deal.
My question or concern is more if a person has a general practitioner and also uses a Dr for TRT but wishes not to share this with their GP for reasons that the GP does not understand this field and is against it. Will this GP now have access to some national computer base indicating a person was prescribed testosterone which I believe is a schedule 3 drug. That there is a legitimate scenario which if true I believe infringes on a persons privacy hippa rights???

[NEFLRick]

Sorry but the laws are intended to put more people in jail. Been extremely well-documented.

Of course most addicts don't want help, they're addicts! My point is, rather than spending so much time, money and effort on this sort of thing, how about treating the problem rather than the symptom? Why is there no pressure on pharma companies to develop non-addictive pain meds? Not saying it's easy or if it's even possible but there is no push to make them do so.

Also, once the people with the problems have problems getting their drugs legally, they will turn to illegal means to obtain them. So you're just pushing them away from somewhere you might actually be able to identify people with problems (and maybe help them) to places where there is no way to know what they're doing.

It's a shame how little this country does about this sort of thing. I know this from experience. No, I've not been an addict but I have people in my family who are/were and know plenty of other people (close friends) who have been/still are. There is nothing being done to help people but a LOT to put them behind bars...

[bullshark99]

Rick you make good points and I'm not trying to be confrontational, I think we all know someone with addiction problems and it's sad. But last I heard tylonel, ibuprofen and drugs like ultram are non-addictive?
I would love to see your "well documented" sources that show the laws are intended to put people in jail. The laws are there to STOP the doctor shopping and get help, it's called rehab. You do make an excellent point, people do turn to illegal means when they get cut off or are discovered to have a problem. The key word here is illegal, at some point people need to take personal responsibility and be accountable regardless how tough it is there are programs out there. Unfortunately I have been there.
Sorry, we can agree to disagree on this on.

[NEFLRick]

Rick you make good points and I'm not trying to be confrontational, I think we all know someone with addiction problems and it's sad. But last I heard tylonel, ibuprofen and drugs like ultram are non-addictive?
I would love to see your "well documented" sources that show the laws are intended to put people in jail. The laws are there to STOP the doctor shopping and get help, it's called rehab. You do make an excellent point, people do turn to illegal means when they get cut off or are discovered to have a problem. The key word here is illegal, at some point people need to take personal responsibility and be accountable regardless how tough it is there are programs out there. Unfortunately I have been there.
Sorry, we can agree to disagree on this on.

The problem is, addicts are incapable of making the correct decisions. Their brain chemistry is so screwed up by the drugs, it doesn't allow them to. No, I'm not trying to make an excuse for them, just illustrating a point. I used to feel the same way until addiction touched us so closely and I learned more about it. It's easy to say they should just make better choices--and it's not untrue--however, they are incapable by the time we say these things.

As far as data showing what I'm saying about putting people into jail, try reading Reefer Madness by Eric Schlosser (link) as a start. Then read up on mandatory minimum sentences--something many judges don't even like. I think you'll start to understand what I'm saying.

Also not trying to be confrontational, just having a chat. I'd like more people to be made aware of these kinds of things. Maybe be able to help some people before it's too late.

[Ryanmcd]

I went to my doc and now they don't even give you a script they just wire it to whatever pharm you go to, kind of nice I think.

[Beethoven]

In the case of testosterone I think it's a bunch of crap. There is a lot of hypocrisy in all of this. People want to practically outlaw cigarets yet we have a big movement to legalize pot. Alcohol probably does more damage than anything else and it's legal. I know addicts don't WANT help and sometimes the legal system is the intervention mechanism for drugs and alcohol. But testosterone?

[Low Testosterone]

I think some are missing the point. Is the war on drugs ridiculous? Maybe so, a good argument can be made that it is. But the point is like it or not testosterone is a controlled substance, and this was brought up to help you guys stay out of trouble because many here play this game.

And if so many people think the war on drugs is ridiculous, why does everyone keep electing the same people over and over again that make the laws? The good news is people in the U.S. are not helpless and have a lot more control than they realize they do. The bad news is most in the U.S. do not realize they have this control or are too lazy to care.

[NEFLRick]

I think some are missing the point. Is the war on drugs ridiculous? Maybe so, a good argument can be made that it is. But the point is like it or not testosterone is a controlled substance, and this was brought up to help you guys stay out of trouble because many here play this game.

And if so many people think the war on drugs is ridiculous, why does everyone keep electing the same people over and over again that make the laws? The good news is people in the U.S. are not helpless and have a lot more control than they realize they do. The bad news is most in the U.S. do not realize they have this control or are too lazy to care.

Well, that's a whole different question now isn't it? Problem is, people who get elected are either already bought or will be bought. Our campaign/donation laws allow this to keep happening. What law maker is going to enact laws to stop this? They'd be cutting off their nose to spite their face.

The war on drugs is pushed by big business. Companies are making BILLIONS of dollars off this, "war," and it's so obvious that's all it's about it drives me crazy (once you start looking past the facade they've put up for us).

If it were only this easy.....

[David LoPan]

Here is a site one should read about the drug tracking program. Most all Doctors in my state have to look up a person to see where and whom they are getting controlled substances. I am not sure how the pharmacies use this information or if they have the same access to it. Doctors are given a DEA number. I do know that all chain Pharmacies can see each others (CVS to CVS) but unsure on if they can see CVS to Walmart. I do know that if you use an apothecary for test and a big Pharmacy for test they don't see each others.

Questions & Answers - State Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

I totally agree the war one drugs is BS. Esp for 420. I am sure those laws will be changed in the next few years mainly due to the benefits of taxation and the profit that Colorado will show.

[Beethoven]

Low t I understand and appreciate the info we get on this site, definitely top notch. I just get on my soap box every now and then to point out some of the hypocrisy in our laws. Thanks for the heads up.

[NEFLRick]

Oh, and, while I'm not one of the guys running around trying to get more test than I'm supposed to have. Honestly, I couldn't care less if people are doing this with test. I know it's a controlled substance. Why do you think so many things are, "controlled," in this manner. Just another thing to throw you in jail for, "abusing."

So, while I'm also on my soapbox, I'm not really missing the point. I appreciate the point--they need to control these things and make it easier to put people in jail for these things. I'm not someone who worries about going to jail for this sort of thing because I don't abuse these things. I just would rather see the time/effort/money invested to helping the problem(s), not treating the symptom(s).

It's a good discussion either way though.

[Beethoven]

And after all this.stuff with Alex.Rodriguez, the good.old performance enhancing thing again.