Pharmacists and Physicians Pioneer Drug Control Here - Health Care Professionals Establish Voluntary Compliance Program

• NCJ Number: 85965
• Author(s): L Johnson
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Reprinted from Jacksonville, V 15, N 1 (1978), P 10, 12-14, 16-18, reprint prepared as part of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Voluntary Compliance Program.

Annotation

Physicians and pharmacists in Jacksonville, Fla., have implemented a voluntary drug compliance program to eliminate the abuse of amphetamines and methaqualones in their communtiy.

Abstract

In 1976, more than 6 million doses of amphetamine were dispensed. They were obtained by prescription, either legitimately in medical practice or by doctors operating so-called 'fat clinics.' Following a study of how many amphetamines were being sold by wholesalers, the Joint Committee on Amphetamines of the Duval County Medical Society, the Jacksonville Area Osteopathic Society, and the Duval County Pharmaceutical Association decided to take all amphetamines and methaqualones off the drug store shelves. A 48-hour delay was imposed in filling prescriptions, so that the pharmacist could contact the physician and confirm the prescription before ordering the drug from the wholesaler. In addition, the prescriptions would only be honored in stock-size packages, so the drug stores would not be left with partial packages. This eliminates the problem of stolen prescription pads, discourages physicians from prescribing these drugs, and eliminates the reason for most drug store holdups. A list of Drug Enforcement Administration offices is appended.