Pallone, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse

PALLONE, COLLEAGUES INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO COMBAT PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE
March 3, 2005

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, joined U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY) and U.S. Sens. Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Jeff Sessions (R-AL) at a news conference on Capitol Hill today to introduce bipartisan and bicameral legislation to combat the overuse and abuse of prescription drugs. In the House, U.S. Reps. Charlie Norwood (R-GA) and Ted Strickland (D-OH), also members of the Energy and Commerce Committee, joined Pallone and Whitfield as original sponsors. Pallone offered the following statement at today's news conference.

"I am pleased to join my colleagues today in reintroducing the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, or 'NASPER' legislation. Every year we come closer to signing this important piece of legislation into law, particularly last year when the bill passed on the House floor, and I believe my colleagues and I stand here today determined to bring this bill to the President as soon as possible.

"It's quite significant for the House and Senate to take up NASPER legislation because it provides an avenue for addressing the illegal diversion and misuse of prescription drugs. Prescription drug abuse constitutes one of the fastest growing areas of drug abuse in our nation today, affecting people of all areas of our nation, all ages and all income levels.

"Health care practitioners and pharmacists desperately need electronic prescription drug monitoring systems to ensure that they are prescribing and dispensing Schedule II, III, and IV Controlled Substances that are medically necessary.

"This bill provides the resources to states to create and operate state-based prescription drug monitoring programs, allows physicians to access this information, and allows for states to communicate with one another. If enacted into law, this bill would help physicians prevent their patients from becoming addicted to prescription medications, and would help law enforcement with criminal investigations in the illicit prescription drug market.

"NASPER legislation represents a work of great bipartisan and bicameral effort and I thank Congressman Ed Whitfield, Congressman Charlie Norwood, Congressman Ted Strickland, Senator Jeff Sessions, Senator Ted Kennedy and Senator Dick Durbin for their willingness to move forward this effort to alleviate the prescription drug abuse problem plaguing our nation. In addition, I applaud the tremendous leadership of the American Society for Interventional Pain Physicians for working with Congress in this significant public health initiative."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/nj06_pallone/pr_mar3_NASPER.html