It's not news that prescription drugs can be abused, sometimes with fatal results, just as illegal drugs can be. That's why our state has implemented the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System. This program seeks to prevent patients from filling prescriptions for certain drugs from multiple prescribing physicians.
The law requires that prescriptions for drugs that are designated as Schedule II, III, IV and V have to be reported through the CPMRS system by pharmacies and practitioners who dispense them. They must be entered into a database that is accessible to physicians and pharmacists. This database allows doctors and pharmacists to see exactly what drugs a patient is taking and is intended to alert them to possible abuse and addiction issues for patients.
A Connecticut law enacted in 2013 requires prescribers of controlled substances to register with the CPMRS. They are also required to upload information on the controlled substances they prescribe into the database.
A law that went into effect in October 2015 requires prescribers and pharmacies to review the patient's records in the CPMRS database prior to prescribing or dispensing more than a 72-hour supply of a controlled substance.
An additional law related to the CPMRS is scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2016. This law will require that pharmacies and dispensers must report any controlled substances that they provide within 24 hours.
Our state legislators are obviously working to prevent people from abusing controlled substances. If you have been charged with violating any of the laws aimed at preventing people from getting multiple prescriptions from various providers, it's wise to seek legal guidance from an experienced Connecticut criminal defense attorney.
Source: State of Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, "Prescription Monitoring Program," accessed Dec. 04, 2015