PDMP statistics: opioid prescription increases in Gasconade by late 2018 above state average

By Buck Collier, Special Correspondent
Posted 12/11/19

HERMANN — After an encouraging start for Gasconade County in terms of reporting on the prescribing and distribution of opioids — a rate below that of counties statewide taking part in a …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

E-mail
Password
Log in

PDMP statistics: opioid prescription increases in Gasconade by late 2018 above state average

Posted

HERMANN — After an encouraging start for Gasconade County in terms of reporting on the prescribing and distribution of opioids — a rate below that of counties statewide taking part in a drug-monitoring program — recent figures are more sobering for local health officials.

As 2018 progressed, Gasconade County’s rate climbed above the level reported statewide.

Gasconade County Health Department Administrator Greg Lara on Nov. 18 noted that the quarterly reports issued by the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program operated  through the St. Louis County Health Department show the local rate of prescriptions and dispensing to be “significantly higher” than the systemwide rate.

In the absence of a statewide drug monitoring program, Gasconade County joined with most of Missouri’s other 113 counties to track prescriptions through the St. Louis County program. In the fourth quarter of 2018, Gasconade County’s dispensation rate was 783.1 opioid prescriptions per 1,000 population, which the report cited as “significantly higher than the total system” rate of 703.6 opioid prescriptions per 1,000 population.

Lara noted that the increasing rate for Gasconade County might be the result of improved reporting by healthcare providers during 2018, rather than an actual increase in use of the controlled drugs.

The program monitors the prescribing and dispensing of Schedule 2, 3 and 4 controlled substance drugs. The fourth quarter report noted that across all age groups, opioids were the most frequently prescribed of those drugs. Opioids comprise 40 percent of all controlled substances dispensed, the report said. The three most-frequently prescribed opioids during the quarter were hydrocodone, oxycodone and tramadol, the report said.

Meanwhile, county health officials are continuing to await word from state government on possible action regarding another troubling issue — the use of e-cigarettes and vaping devices.

Health Department Board of Trustees Vice Chairman Stan Hall, presiding that Monday with Chairman Sharen Speckhals absent, continued to voice concern about the health threat posed by e-cigarettes and vaping to younger users.

Lara told the trustees that the local health agency still hasn’t heard what legislation might be considered in Jefferson City to combat the problem, explaining a state panel is studying the issue. “We’re still working on getting information” about the matter, Lara said.

Hall said there’s adequate information available to the public now to show the use of the devices to be a hazard. “How much information do you  have to have?” to convince someone to stop using the devices, he asked.