[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 29 (Tuesday, March 1, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E385]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 NATIONAL ALL SCHEDULES PRESCRIPTION ELECTRONIC REPORTING ACT (NASPER)

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. ED WHITFIELD

                              of kentucky

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 1, 2011

  Mr. WHITFIELD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about legislation I 
have introduced that will reinforce our Nation's commitment to 
combating prescription drug abuse by reauthorizing the National All 
Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act, NASPER, for three 
additional years.
  On August 11, 2005, NASPER was signed into law to assist States in 
combating prescription drug abuse of controlled substances, through 
prescription drug monitoring programs, PDMPs. NASPER is administered by 
the Department of Health and Human Services, HHS, and provides grants 
to States to establish and improve prescription drug monitoring 
programs.
  Just last week, the head of the Office of National Drug Control 
Policy, ONDCP, Gil Kerlikowske, embarked on a three-day visit to 
Kentucky where he saw firsthand the significant problems with 
prescription pill abuse, an issue many in my district struggle with. 
It's estimated that 82 Kentuckians die each month as a result of 
overdoses. Nationwide there were more than 27,000 deaths from 
prescription drug overdoses in 2007, a number that has risen five-fold 
since 1990. These statistics are unacceptable and a testament that more 
must be done.
  While Kentucky has made great strides through its PDMP and 
collaboration between the public and private sector, illicit drugs 
continue to flow across our borders from States without PDMPs, such as 
Florida. Last Wednesday, law enforcement officials from the U.S. Drug 
Enforcement Administration, DEA, conducted a massive raid in South 
Florida arresting 20, including five doctors, after a yearlong 
investigation involving trafficking of prescription pills. What's more 
concerning is the recent decision by the Governor of Florida to repeal 
funding for the creation of a PDMP approved by the State legislature in 
2009.
  By reauthorizing the NASPER program we will ensure States have the 
support they need to address prescription drug abuse by making NASPER 
grants available for planning purposes as well as for ``establishing, 
improving, and maintaining'' their programs. Through these grants, 
States will be given resources to help prevent patients from doctor 
shopping and abusing prescription drugs. This also will help to ensure 
that appropriate law enforcement, regulatory and State professional 
licensing authorities have access to prescription history information 
for the purposes of investigating drug diversion and errant prescriber/
pharmacist prescribing and dispensing practices.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this vital piece of 
legislation and to push for swift passage in the House.

                          ____________________