CHICAGO (ILLINOIS) - DISPENSING OF CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES (HEARINGS BEFORE THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON NAROTICS ABUSE AND CONTROL - HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, NINETY-SIXTH CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION, JULY 30, 1979)

• NCJ Number: 65717
• Author(s): ANON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 212 pages
• Corporate Author: National Community Education Assoc
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislative/Regulatory Material
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

IN RESPONSE TO A 'CHICAGO TRIBUNE' INVESTIGATION INTO THE PEDDLING OF LEGAL, BUT UNNEEDED DRUGS, THE HOUSE COMMITTEE CONDUCTED HEARINGS IN CHICAGO IN 1979 ON ABUSE OF LEGAL DRUGS.

Abstract

THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRATION (DEA) OPENED THE HEARINGS BY EXPLAINING THAT THE AGENCY HAS AUTHORITY TO MONITOR COMMERCE IN CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AT ATHHE MANUFACTURING AND WHOLESALE LEVELS, BUT THAT THESE DRUGS ARE USUALLY DIVERTED INTO ILLEGAL CHANNELS BY PHARMACISTS AND DOCTORS. ALTHOUGH DEA USES TWO INFORMATION SYSTEMS, INCLUDING DRUG ABUSE WARNING NETWORK, TO DETECT DRUG USE PATTERNS, REGULATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS IS A STATE RESPONSIBILITY. REPORTERS FROM THE 'CHICAGO TRIBUNE' THEN DISCUSSED THEIR INVESTIGATIONS OF 445 MEDICAL SERVICES, INC., A PILL-PEDDLING RACKET OPERATING AS A WEIGHT CONTROL AND STRESS CLINIC. IN COMMENTING ON THE TALWIN PROBLEM IN ILLINOIS, A STATE SENATOR CONTENDED THAT THE DEA HAD BEEN UNRESPONSIVE TO LOCAL NEEDS. OTHER STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS COMMENTED ON PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND GOVERNMENT EFFORTS TO COMBAT THE PROBLEM. PHYSICIANS WHO SPECIALIZED IN OBESITY PROBLEMS DETAILED THEIR PRACTICES IN DISPENSING DRUGS, AND ONE REFUTED THE ALLEGATIONS MADE BY THE 'TRIBUNE'. TESTIMONY FORM A CONFIDENTIAL WITNESS ILLUSTRATED THE EASE OF OBTAINING PRELUDINS AND TALWIN FROM DOCTORS AND THEN PROFITABLY PEDDLING THEM IN THE STREET. REGIONAL OFFICIALS FROM THE DEA AND ILLINOIS DISCUSSED THEIR PROBLEMS IN INVESTIGATING CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE TRAFFIC. THE COMMITTEE ALSO HEARD FROM MEDICAL AND PHARMACEUTICAL ASSOCIATIONS WHO EXPLAINED THEIR EFFORTS TO CONTROL PRESCRIPTION DRUGS. IMPROVED ENFORCEMENT OF EXISTING REGULATIONS BY FEDERAL AND STATE AUTHORITIES WAS RECOMMENDED, RATHER THAN NEW LAWS. THE PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION INCLUDES SUPPLEMENTAL ARTICLES ON PHYSICIAN COMPETENCE, EXAMPLES OF DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS AGAINST MEDICAL PERSONNEL, AND TEXTS OF ILLINOIS LAWS ON CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES AND MEDICAL PRACTICE. (MJM)