Hacker Halts Access to Prescription Pills
June 30th, 2009 by Rick
Blowback from the activities of a hacker that infiltrated the computers connected to VA state prescription database is now being felt as pain-stricken people do not have access to their medication. Over 35 million prescription records were compromised.
Pharmacists only have limited access to the database and apparently will not prescribe medication without history and information. A House panel in the Virginia Legislature learned Monday, that patients were not receiving the following drugs:
- Oxycontin
- Valium
- Vicodin
- Ritalin
Two Virginia legislative panels looked into the Northrop Grumman Corporation, a technology company that ran the program that has a $2b, 10-year contract with Virginia. Oddly enough, Northrop Grumman Corporation is also the 4th largest defense contractor in the world. What this has to do with pill prescriptions leaves one’s mind to wonder.
Prescription Abuse is Priority, Says Drug Czar
May 21st, 2009 by Rick
In an interview with USA Today on Wednesday, Drug Czar Gil Kerlikowske, commented that one of his priorities within the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy will be to crack down on prescription abuse.
We get overly concerned about drugs coming in, but the pharmaceuticals are here already.
Under his plans Kerlikowske wants doctors and pharmacists to be able to log prescriptions, particularly to the addictive drugs, so that law enforcement can track them. Some states already have a database of such, known as prescription-monitoring programs.
We’re going to shout that from the rooftops. We have a national effort to combat swine flu. In the same way, we can bring all forces to bear on the drug problem.
Although Kerlikowske takes a step back from previous administrations with the view on the war on drugs, he hasn’t completely escaped the dark side — at least not in front of over 300 police, federal agents and other law enforcement:
Legalization isn’t in the president’s vocabulary, and it certainly isn’t in mine.
Two things come to mind about the prescription monitoring programs:
- What rights would we as citizens and patients have for our records to be private and confidential, as the Hippocratic oath assures? Does this mean any local yokel sheriff’s department will have access to the database on a mere whim, or will the information be protected and they would have to have a warrant to access it?
- If more states begin to participate in these programs, what are they doing to safeguard our information from the computer intrusion specialists? After all, we reported a few weeks ago that a prescription monitoring program in VA was hacked. If the script kiddies can get through, what about infiltration by government trained hackers from other countries?
Although the new Drug Czar and his viewpoints are considered by some to be a breath of fresh air, we still need to be vigilant about the stale stench that could easily engulf him.
Prescription Marijuana on the Rise
April 17th, 2009 by Russ
Recession, schmecession. Legal prescription weed is booming, and so are the ledgers of medical marijuana dispensaries, co-ops, and cannabis-friendly physicians. According to MSNBC, requests for weed prescriptions have nearly tripled since President Obama took office in January.
Several factors are potentially responsible for the uptick in herbal medication. Firstly, President Obama personally put a stop to the raiding of state-run medical marijuana facilities by overzealous federal agents. By doing so, he removed the quasi-legal stigma associated with state-run growing operations. And while the President claimed to simply be defending states rights in the face of federal infringement, legal weed advocates saw this as a full endorsement of marijuana as a completely legitimate medical treatment.
The recession might also be providing motivation for patients to embrace Texas Tea treatment. Even as a regulated and taxed substance, marijuana is significantly cheaper than most prescription drugs. Also, given its wide potential for application and minor side-effects, many patients can use marijuana to treat several illnesses at once.
This is especially true for those suffering from Glaucoma-Induced Nauseous Back Pain Anxiety Disorder. I count myself among such sufferers, and can tell you that it takes a monumental hit from my AMA-Approved “Satan’s Vacuum” Therapeutic Gravity Bong to alleviate my symptoms. Thank goodness for First World medical technology.
Rx Drugs Aren’t All Fun & Games
October 22nd, 2008 by Alex
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has issued a report about the increasing dangers of reactions to prescription drugs.
In the first three months of 2008, a record number of serious problems and deaths linked to medications has been reported to the government.
The FDA has received reports of around 21,000 serious drug reactions, that number includes over 4,800 deaths. The total of 20,745 cases, from January ‘08 to March ‘08, is a full 38% higher than the same period of 2007. Scary.
Thomas J. Moore, a senior scientist with ISMP, had this to say:
We believe that one of the most important tools to promote is to monitor trends on a regular basis. Knowing which drugs are causing injuries and how many people are being hurt is the raw material we need to fashion sound measures to promote patient safety.
As someone who recently went to a 24 year old girl’s funeral, with evidence of medication as the cause of death, please be careful about what prescriptions you take.
Always let your doctor know what you’re currently taking before something new is prescribed, and if you feel funky, don’t hesitate to head on down to emergency care.
Be safe people.
