Governor Rell: State Applying For Stimulus Grants

to Combat Prescription Drug Abuse

New Initiative Would Target “Doctor Shoppers,”

For Rehabilitation Rather Than Criminal Arrest

            Governor M. Jodi Rell announced today that the state is applying for more than $620,000 in federal stimulus grants to hire special durational staff within the Department of Consumer Protection to target individuals who abuse prescription drugs by “doctor shopping,” the practice of seeing multiple physicians and pharmacies to acquire controlled substances for nonmedical use.

            “The illicit use of prescription drugs is a growing problem and exacts a steep and costly toll on the abusers, their families, employers and society in general,” Governor Rell said. “These funds will allow us to take a novel approach in combating abuse and addiction by identifying these individuals early and offering rehabilitation instead of criminal prosecution. We can help people reclaim their lives and become productive individuals in the workforce.”

The Drug Control Division of the Department of Consumer Protection currently maintains a database of all controlled substance prescriptions filled in Connecticut as well as prescriptions filled out of state and delivered into Connecticut. The database, known as the Connecticut Prescription Monitoring and Reporting System (CPMRS), includes patient information, the name of the prescribing doctor, the pharmacy that filled the script, date it was filled and payment method.

DCP estimates that more than 3,000 patients or 20 percent of those receiving controlled substance prescriptions share common characteristics that identify them as potential “doctor shoppers,” many of whom are patients addicted to painkillers as a result of a debilitating injury. Under the new proposal, DCP would use a two-year federal grant to create an investigative unit comprising a special agent with statewide jurisdiction and a health program assistant. The unit will be expected to investigate at least 200 “doctor shoppers” over the course of the two-year program.

The initiative also will fund education and training for police, pharmacists and addiction treatment professionals and provides training for law enforcement agencies on the use of the CPMRS as an investigative tool in “doctor shopping” cases. The special unit would collaborate with the Department of Public Safety, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and the Governors Prevention Partnership.

The competitive grants are offered through the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) for the purpose of hiring civilian staff for law enforcement and public safety-related agencies.

“My administration will continue to go after every dollar for which the State of Connecticut is eligible under the federal stimulus act to improve our economy, create jobs and continue to care for our citizens,” Governor Rell said.

For more information on the DCP proposal and application and for other funding opportunities in Connecticut under the ARRA, visit the state’s official stimulus Web site at: www.ct.gov and click on the CT Recovery link.