Maryland's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
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On May 10, 2011, Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law Senate Bill 883, legislation to create a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) in Maryland. The goal of the PDMP is to reduce the non-medical use, abuse and diversion of prescription drugs while preserving legitimate patient access to optimal pharmaceutical-assisted care. The PDMP will monitor the prescribing and dispensing of Controlled Dangerous Substances (drugs with abuse potential), including opioid pain relievers like oxycodone (OxyContin, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet), hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab) and methadone prescribed for pain, psychotherapeutics like alprazolam (Xanax) and diazepam (Valium), and stimulants like Adderall and Ritalin.
The program will make prescription information available only to a limited, statutorily-defined group of individuals and organizations responsible for ensuring the health and welfare of patients and the lawful use of controlled substances. For the first time, comprehensive information on controlled substances prescribed and dispensed will be made available to doctors, pharmacists and other healthcare providers. The PDMP will provide a powerful clinical tool for the prevention, early identification, and treatment of prescription drug abuse and addiction. The program will also assist bona fide investigations by law enforcement, licensing and regulatory agencies to reduce the diversion of controlled substances to the illegal market.
In partnership with government agencies, universities, non-profits, professional societies and other stakeholders, the PDMP will develop and make available training and educational resources on the appropriate clinical use of controlled substances and prescription drug-related abuse and addiction to healthcare practitioners, policymakers, researchers and the general public.
