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Abuse of prescription drugs up in Iowa
Posted: 11.14.2008 at 11:59 AM
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DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Iowa's drug czar wants to extend a statewide database of prescription drugs to fight the abuse of medications, especially by young people.
The law that created the program expires June 30. Gary Kendell, director of the Governor's Office of Drug Control Policy, wants lawmakers to extend it for a year.
The monitoring programs, used in 38 states, are designed to catch users who forge prescriptions and buy and sell non-prescribed drugs.
Kendell says officials need to be able to keep track and see if people are doctor-shopping and pharmacy-hopping.
Kendell's request comes as new statistics show the abuse of prescription drugs continues to rise in Iowa.
Mike Wenger of Employee and Family Resources in Des Moines says more teens abuse prescription drugs than any illicit drug except for marijuana.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)