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Addicts in Oregon bypass controls, get many prescriptions

The audit identified 148 people who received controlled substance prescriptions from 30 or more different prescribers.
Photo: Getty Images

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — With Oregon having some of the highest opioid-abuse rates in the nation, a state audit found many holes in a prescription drug monitoring program that's supposed to combat the epidemic.

The audit, released Tuesday by the secretary of state's office, noted that Oregon is one of only nine states that do not require prescribers or pharmacies to use the prescription drug monitoring program or PDMP.

Among recommendations of the audit is to require a caregiver to check a patient's history on the PDMP database before prescribing controlled substances. Another is for pharmacists to do the same before issuing a medication.

The audit identified 148 people who received controlled substance prescriptions from 30 or more different prescribers. One person had 290 opioid prescriptions filled by 75 pharmacies.

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