Abstract
The Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program (VPMP) has been in effect since 2002, providing reports for prescribers, pharmacists, and other stakeholders in the growing opioid epidemic. The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner is one such stakeholder and has found great efficacy in the program in investigating suspected drug-related deaths. This review examines the origins of the VPMP, its benefits, and limitations for use during death investigation.
Keywords
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Orr
R.A.
Virginia's prescription monitoring program: promoting management, reducing risk [Internet]. Henrico (VA) : Virginia Department of Health Professions ; 2010 May 1 [cited 2016 Dec 5]. 18 p. Available from: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/dhp_programs/pmp/docs/May2010/PMPpresentationUVAconf5-1-10.pdf.
2.
Orr
R.A.
Virginia's prescription monitoring program: 2002-2007 and beyond [Internet]. Henrico (VA) : Virginia Department of Health Professions ; 2007 Nov 16 [cited 2016 Dec 5]. 21 p. Available from: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/dhp_programs/pmp/docs/Virginia%27s%20PMP%202002-2007%20and%20Beyond.pps.
3.Compilation of Prescription Monitoring Program Maps [Internet]. Manchester (IA) : National Alliance for Model State Drug Laws ; 2016 May [cited 2016 Nov 8]. 34 p. Available from: http://www.namsdl.org/library/CAE654BF-BBEA-211E-694C755E16C2DD21/.
4.
2006 Code of Virginia § 54.1-2523 - Confidentiality of data; disclosure of information; discretionary authority of Director.
5.
2014 Virginia Code Title 32.1 - Health § 32.1-283. Investigation of deaths; obtaining consent to removal of organs, etc.; fees.
6.
Bohnert
A.S.
,
Valenstein
M.
,
Bair
M.J.
. Association between opioid prescribing patterns and opioid overdose-related deaths. JAMA. 2011 Apr 6; 305 (13 ): 1315 –21 . PMID: 21467284. https://dx-doi-org-s.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1001/jama.2011.370.
7.
Hobron
K.
Office of the Chief Medical Examiner's Annual Report, 2014. Richmond : Virginia Department of Health ; 2014 [cited 2016 Dec 5]. 263 p. Available from: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/18/2016/04/Annual-Report-2014-FINAL.pdf.
8.Davis GG; National Association of Medical Examiners and American College of Medical Toxicology Expert Panel on Evaluating and Reporting Opioid Deaths. National Association of Medical Examiners position paper: recommendations for the investigation, diagnosis, and certification of deaths related to opioid drugs. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2013 Mar; 3 (1 ): 77 –83 .
9.
Hobron
K.
Fatal drug overdose quarterly report. Edition 2016.2 [Internet]. Richmond : Virginia Office of the Chief Medical Examiner ; 2016 Oct [cited 2016 Dec 5]. 28 p. Available from: http://www.vdh.virginia.gov/content/uploads/sites/18/2016/04/Quarterly-Drug-Death-Report-FINAL_10.2016.pdf.
10.
Orr
R.A.
Virginia prescription monitoring program annual statistics, 2015. Henrico (VA) : Virginia Department of Health Professions ; 2016 [cited 2016 Nov 14]. 3 p. Available from: https://www.dhp.virginia.gov/dhp_programs/pmp/docs/ProgramStats/2015PMPStatsFinal.pdf.
11.
Larochelle
M.R.
,
Liebschutz
J.M.
,
Zhang
F.
. Opioid prescribing after nonfatal overdose and association with repeated overdose. Ann Intern Med. 2016 Jan 5; 164 (1 ): 1 –9 . PMID: 26720742. https://dx-doi-org-s.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.7326/M15-0038.
12.
Dilokthornsakul
P.
,
Moore
G.
,
Campbell
J.D.
. Risk factors of prescription opioid overdose among Colorado Medicaid beneficiaries. J Pain. 2016 Apr; 17 (4 ): 436 –43 . PMID: 26721613. https://dx-doi-org-s.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1016/j.jpain.2015.12.006.
13.
Zedler
B.
,
Xie
L.
,
Wang
L.
,
Joyce
A.
. Risk factors for serious prescription opioid-related toxicity or overdose among Veterans Health Administration patients. Pain Med. 2014 Nov; 15 (11 ): 1911 –29 . PMID: 24931395. https://dx-doi-org-s.web.bisu.edu.cn/10.1111/pme.12480.
