A database designed to curb prescription drug abuse in the state is creating a headache for medical professionals who don’t work with human patients. Veterinarians say the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, or PDMP, is a regulatory hassle, creates privacy concerns and just doesn’t apply to veterinary medicine.
Soldotna Republican Rep. Justin Ruffridge introduced a bill that would exempt vets statewide from the program. A state law in 2008 created the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. In 2017, in response to rising rates of opioid use in the state, it became mandatory for medical providers who provide or administer scheduled substances to report to PDMP.