Rehder honored for her fight against prescription drug abuse

CHARLESTON, Mo - Prescription opioid and heroin is a growing epidemic in America, which is why state and community leaders announced yesterday a special honor for Rep. Holly Rehder, R-Sikeston, recognizing her leadership in the fight against prescription drug abuse in Missouri.

"No one raises their hands and say, 'I want to be an addict,'" said Rehder.

According to Centers of Disease Control, drug overdose deaths in 2014 were 47,000 -- almost 12,000 more deaths due to vehicle accidents in the same year. More than 60 percent of drug overdose deaths involve an opioid such as hydrocodone, oxycodone and fentanyl.

ACT Missouri, Charleston C2000 Coalition, FCC Behavioral Health and Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals came together to highlight Rehder's commitment to sponsoring legislation that would create a statewide prescription drug monitoring program, or PDMPs, in Missouri.

Shawn Sando, CEO, FCC Behavioral Health gave the opening remarks. "A true champion," he called her.

"It's an honor to receive this award from those who are truly in the trenches daily fighting to prevent opioid misuse and abuse," said Rehder. "Those in the trenches are our unsung heroes."

Missouri is the only state in the country to not have a PDMP -- even Guam, a US territory, has legislation against prescription drug abuse.

PDMPs are state-run electronic databases used to track the prescribing and dispensing of controlled prescription drugs to patients. Designed to monitor suspected abuse or illegal use, it gives a prescriber or pharmacist information regarding a patient's prescription history, which could help them identify high-risk patients who could benefit from early interventions.

Rehder helped push the Narcotics Control Act. It passed the Missouri House committee earlier this year, only to be filibustered by the Senate. According to Rehder, the chief opponent, Sen. Rob Schaaf, R-St. Joseph said that a PDMP would violate patient privacy.

"Electronic medical records fall under federal [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act], so they're already protected," Rehder said. "Physicians and pharmacists are only allowed to look at their patients's records."

Cost isn't much of an issue either. According to Congressional Research Service, PDMP costs may vary, with startup costs ranging for $450,000 to over $1.5 million and annual operating costs ranging from $125,000 to $1 million. But according to Missouri Department of Mental Health, dealing with the burdens of substance abuse is even more costly -- about $1.3 billion is spent annually in Missouri on treatment and incarceration.

The amount of prescription opioids sold in the US and the amount of opioid overdose deaths has nearly quadrupled since 1999, yet there has not been an overall change in the amount of pain that Americans report, according to CDC.

"The first step to resolution is recognition," said Sando.

Also at the award program, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceutical showed commitment to alleviating opioid abuse by finding a solution to safely dispose of old medication. Rehder expressed concern for adolescents who have "very easy" access their parents' medicine.

According to a national survey conducted by American Medical Association's Journal of Internal Medicine, over half have had or expected to have leftovers, about 61 percent whom reported to keep them for later use, which about 1 in 10 people kept them stored safely away from others. Nearly half of those surveyed recalled receiving any information on safe storage (47 percent) or proper disposal (45 percent).

Mallinckrodt donated one million "specially formulated" drug deactivation pouches to the nation, which 35,000 would come to the Charleston area. Each pouch has about a 15 pill capacity, and if each pouch is full, more than half a million prescription pills would be out of circulation in the community.

According to Kevin Webb, director of advocacy relations for Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, in the pouches are carbon chemical compounds, that when mixed with a little tap water, neutralizes the medication making it safe for disposal. "Nothing can be extracted," he added.

"Mallinckrodt, as well as every organization represented here today, not only helps on the front lines, but also in the halls of the Capitol as well. I cannot thank them enough," said Rehder.

According to a press release, the drug disposal pouches are free of charge. They are being distributed through the Missouri Substance Abuse Prevention Network. ACT Missouri facilitates this group of prevention leaders representing 160 community coalitions across the state. These coalitions work with educators, pharmacies, law enforcement and mental health providers to distribute the pouches.