Impact of Prescription Drug Monitoring Program on Pharmacy Practice

This article discusses the impact of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) on pharmacy practice, including its effects on prescription process, patient care, and the profession of pharmacy.

Running head: LAW AND ETHICS 1
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LAW AND ETHICS 2
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The name of the regulation and changes that were implemented
The selected regulation is Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) that was
effected in October 2018. This regulation was developed after the “tragedy” of increased cases of
overdose deaths in 2015. The purpose of this law is to regulate the approach used in the
prescription of schedule II, III and/ IV drugs. Unlike before, physicians would be required to
assess the patients’ prescriptions no more than 24 hours before prescribing these class of
medications for the first time (Nam et al., 2017). The evaluation should then be carried out at
least every four months thereafter. This will help the State to identify the high-risk areas that are
potential to abuse drugs. It helps reduce cases of drug abuse prescription, overdose, and
diversion.
How it affects my practice as a pharmacy technician
The new regulation has a great impact on my practice as a pharmacy technician. It helps
to enhance the prescription process since the information collected from the assessment of the
patient history will give me additional information that would allow me to make rational
decisions in dilemma situation regarding medications. Therefore in some cases, I might make
other decisions that are in the interest of the client regardless of the doctors’ plan (Norwood &
Wright, 2016). It allows me to exercise my professional insights and judgment. It promotes safe
prescription since it helps me to identify trends when managing a patient of concern.
The possible outcomes of the new regulation
This new regulation was adopted in a bid to control the prescription of controlled
substances in the state. One of the possible outcomes of the new regulation is the promotion of
safety prescriptions. The program acts as a safety tool that helps a physician to understand the

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medication therapy used by the patient. Therefore, they can be able to ensure that patients are not
mixing drugs which could result in an overdose (Soelberg et al., 2017). It also allows a physician
to redirect the care process to safe treatment plan which could be achieved by tapering the client
off medications that could be unhealthy. This helps to promote safe health outcomes.
Impacts on patient care that may occur
The new regulation has had positive impacts on patient care. First, it allows prescribers to
overcome the challenge of overcome cases of deaths as a result of overdose and substance abuse
disorders. The new program also allows prescribers to monitor the current medications used by
the patient hence ensuring that the medication prescribed do not result in overdose. It also allows
physicians and government agencies to assess the high-risk areas for substance abuse (Pomerleau
et al., 2016). This information can then be used to come up with community-based management
strategies. Lastly, the program helps in reducing cases of morbidity and mortality associated with
overlapping opioid prescriptions.
Impacts on the profession of pharmacy that may occur
The new regulation has positive impacts on the profession of pharmacy. First, it enhances
the roles of pharmacists. The integration of the new regulation has enhanced the clinical
decisions made by pharmacists since it provides detailed information regarding patient history.
One can, therefore, be able to make rational professional judgments. This program would also
enhance safe prescription by these pharmacists (Norwood & Wright, 2016). By using this
program, pharmacists would be able to prevent cases of drug diversion and prescription drug
abuse. It allows pharmacists to assess the impacts of the medications that they have prescribed to
their patients and make changes in cases where the desired outcome are not met.

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References
Bansal, P., Gupta, S., Christopher, A. F., & Gupta, V. (2015). Tragedies in Clinical Trials-A
History Wrapped Up. Int J Clin Pharmacol Toxicol, 4(3), 169-178.
Nam, Y. H., Shea, D. G., Shi, Y., & Moran, J. R. (2017). State prescription drug monitoring
programs and fatal drug overdoses. Am J Manag Care, 23(5), 297-303.
Norwood, C. W., & Wright, E. R. (2016). Integration of prescription drug monitoring programs
(PDMP) in pharmacy practice: Improving clinical decision-making and supporting a
pharmacist's professional judgment. Research in Social and Administrative
Pharmacy, 12(2), 257-266. doi: 10.1016/j.sapharm.2015.05.008
Pomerleau, A. C., Nelson, L. S., Hoppe, J. A., Salzman, M., Weiss, P. S., & Perrone, J. (2016).
The impact of prescription drug monitoring programs and prescribing guidelines on
emergency department opioid prescribing: a multi-center survey. Pain medicine, 18(5),
889-897.
Soelberg, C. D., Brown, R. E., Du Vivier, D., Meyer, J. E., & Ramachandran, B. K. (2017). The
US opioid crisis: current federal and state legal issues. Anesthesia & Analgesia, 125(5),
1675-1681.