The Kansas Tracking and Reporting of Controlled Substances, or K-TRACS, is currently in danger of running out of funding. This system is a database which is accessible to doctors and pharmacists who operate in Kansas. The goal of the database is to serve as a check on people who “doctor shop”, or get multiple prescriptions from different doctors. If this system runs out of funds, dealers and addicts will be able to get three or more prescriptions of the same prescription drug every month. Multiple prescriptions of a dangerous and addictive drug like Oxycodone vastly increase the likelihood of overdose and addiction in its users. There is strong support for the system with doctors and pharmacists. It allows them to help with the problem, and catch abuse when it happens. The funding problem threatens to halt the project though. Without a solution, the database will stop functioning in October of 2012. To read this article in its entirety, go to www.khi.org.
This problem needs to be looked at, and awareness needs to be increased. With 124 prescription drug overdoses in 2009, Kansas is in trouble. Nationwide in the same year, there were 37,485 deaths from prescription drugs. This figure should reinforce the seriousness of this problem. With more deaths from prescription overdose than car crashes, our country is facing a big problem. These databases need to be supported, and doctors who knowingly give multiple prescriptions should be punished. Many of those who do not die are still addicted to the drugs which they get from their doctors. That, in turn, causes many of these people to have to get treatment for their addictions. While there are many treatment options available, they are not all the same. If you are looking for Kansas drug rehabilitation, please give us a call.