Purdue Pharma supports government prescription drug monitoring programs, grants NASCSA $200,000

Oct 21 2009

The National Association of State Controlled Substances Authorities (NASCSA) announced receipt of a $200,000 grant from Purdue Pharma L.P. today at the organization's 25th annual conference in San Diego. The grant is part of Purdue Pharma's ongoing efforts to support the operation, expansion and awareness of appropriately-designed state prescription drug monitoring programs, which can be an effective tool to address prescription drug abuse and diversion.

NASCSA will manage the solicitation, review and funding of grant proposals. State government agencies or departments will be selected based on an independent review by the NASCSA Special Projects Committee, which consists of association members with expertise in the field of prescription drug abuse and diversion and prescription drug monitoring programs. Purdue Pharma will have no input into the final selection process.

"State budgets are shrinking, but the abuse and diversion of prescription drug problem is a growing concern, said Kathy Keough, NASCSA Executive Director. "Purdue Pharma's funding of state prescription drug monitoring programs will help keep these medications out of the wrong hands while ensuring legitimate patients have access to the medications they need."

The grant monies are scheduled to be distributed by NASCSA to various state government departments or agencies with the ability to accept private funding expressly for their state prescription monitoring program by the end of 2010.

"Since 2001, Purdue Pharma has been working to support the implementation of appropriately-designed prescription monitoring programs as one way to help reduce abuse and diversion of prescription medications," said Alan Must, Vice President of State Government and Legislative Affairs at Purdue Pharma. "Reducing the abuse of prescription medications will take the combined and coordinated efforts of healthcare professionals, law enforcement, government agencies and local communities."