Statewide prescription drug monitoring program begins after two years of preparation

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

Two years after Senate Bill 63 was signed, the Missouri Joint Oversight Task Force will be authorized to supervise the use of prescription drugs.

The task force will monitor how many prescribed scheduled drugs -- controlled substances that can lead to substance abuse -- are dispensed.

Schedule II includes oxycodone, opium and codeine. Schedule III and IV can include ketamine, Tylenol with codeine and Xanax, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The program is meant "to reduce abuse and misuse of controlled substances such as opioids by making dispensation information for such substances available to prescribers, dispensers, and health care providers," according to the PDMP website.

Columbia and Boone County began using St. Louis County's prescription drug database.

ABC 17 spoke with local pharmacist, Trevor Isringhausen about what improvements he has seen. ""We can check the database just to see if potentially they're getting other narcotics from other doctors at other pharmacies. There has it has been easier to catch some of those that maybe are cash pay only. So that has been maybe the biggest change," said Isringhausen.

The task force will provide data for statistical research and educational purposes but patients' information will not be given to local, state or federal authorities because of privacy laws.

The information would be shared with public and private entities after the drugs have been removed.