A Senate committee heard testimony for and against the creation of a statewide drug monitoring program
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A Senate committee heard testimony for and against the creation of a statewide drug monitoring program

Date: April 20, 2016
By: Jill Ornitz
State Capitol Bureau

Intro: 
A Senate committee heard two different bills that would both create a statewide prescription drug monitoring program.
RunTime: 0:34
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Two bills before the Senate Public Safety Committee would establish a prescription drug monitoring program in Missouri.

St. Joseph Republican Senator and physician Rob Schaaf said a monitoring program would not stop people from abusing drugs.

Actuality:  SCHAAFA.WAV
Run Time: 00:11
Description: "They don't work because when you make it difficult for people to get prescription drugs, they turn to heroin and more people die of heroin. It's been shown in multiple states that this has happened."

 

Missouri is the only state in the country that does not have a prescription drug monitoring program.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

Intro: 
Missouri would be the last state in the country to establish a prescription drug monitoring program under legislation heard by a senate committee.
RunTime: 0:37
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The Senate Public Safety Committee heard a bill that would establish a state system for doctors and pharmacists to see if patients have multiple prescriptions for opiods.

St. Louis County resident Cindy O'Neill said a prescription drug monitoring program would have prevented her husband's death.

Actuality:  ONEILLA.WAV
Run Time: 00:10
Description: "Had he lived in Tennessee, Indiana, Kansas, where he had worked. He was a contract worker, he worked in all these different states. Had he lived anywhere else, there was a chance that my husband would still be here with us today."
Opponents of the drug monitoring program said it would infringe upon individual liberties and act as a form of surveillance.

Reporting from the state Captiol, I'm Jill Ornitz.

 

Intro: 
Privacy and public health concerns arose in a Senate committee hearing about legislation to establish a statewide drug monitoring program.
RunTime: 0:31
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Missouri is currently the only state in the country that does not have a prescription drug monitoring program.

St. Louis County resident Cindy O'Neill said her husband might still be alive if the state had a monitoring program.

Actuality:  ONEILLB.WAV
Run Time: 00:06
Description: "There's no privacy if a person is dead. I would give my privacy, I would give my -- if I had my husband back."

Opponents said the statewide data base would act as a form of surveillance if it is established. The committee did not vote on the legislation.

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Jill Ornitz.