Missouri only state without drug monitoring program

Missouri is the only state remaining in the country without a drug monitoring program. Despite the program being a bipartisan issue, there are still some opponents to the issue.

A drug monitoring program would essentially allow medical professionals to be able to tell if people were “shopping” around for painkiller prescriptions.

Last week, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack visited Columbiato talk about opioid abuse concerns.

Opponents to the program cite privacy concerns for patients. McCaskill has said 49 other states have found ways to start a program without violating privacy. She mentioned not having a program isn’t just a Missouri problem, with people from neighboring states coming in to “shop” for the prescriptions.

ABC 17 News spoke with Republican State Representative Caleb Rowden about the issue. Rowden says he’s support the creation of a program since he started his tenure in the general assembly, but understands opponents’ reservations.

“I certainly understand the concerns of opponents as it relates to privacy but I think we’ve done everything we can do to make sure those concerns are accounted for.”

Rowden continued saying, when it comes down to it, Missouri is the last state in the country without a program.

“I’m usually not a proponent of giving into peer pressure, but I do think in this case, when it comes to doing everything we can do to try to curb this epidemic that is around us, I think this is something we should do.”

Rowden also talked about the support on both sides of the political spectrum the program has.

“The house and senate both, short of a couple of individuals, have been supportive of it. You’re always optimistic. Another year, we’ll see what happens.”

According to the CDC, opioidskilled more than 28,000 people in 2014, more than any year on record. At least half of all opioid overdose deaths involve a prescription opioid.