Health

Gov. Nikki Haley establishes Governor’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Council

by Nikki Gaskins Campbell
Executive Order 2014-22 Works To Combat Prescription Drug Abuse
Executive Order 2014-22 Works To Combat Prescription Drug Abuse

Governor Nikki Haley today issued Executive Order 2014-22 creating the Governor’s Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Council – established with the task of developing a comprehensive and proactive plan to combat prescription drug abuse across the state.

South Carolina Inspector General Patrick Maley previously released a report highlighting that prescription drug regulation in South Carolina could benefit from a more coordinated effort among state agencies.

“Prescription drug abuse is a serious issue in this country and in South Carolina, affecting far too many of our citizens and their families,” said Gov. Haley. “Finding solutions for drug addiction of any kind is always complicated and takes a real team effort and I thank Inspector General Maley and our partners for their leadership and willingness to help combat this growing problem.”

The Council will evaluate the extent of prescription drug abuse throughout the state, develop solutions, and will annually report this data to the governor once the plan is implemented. This statewide plan will require coordination among all agencies that have a regulatory, enforcement, or treatment role in this issue.

“For decades, DHEC’s Bureau of Drug Control has worked with other law enforcement officials to prevent the diversion of controlled substances from legal sources into the hands of criminals,” said Director Catherine Templeton. “Governor Haley’s order takes an important step in continuing DHEC’s effort to link our communities, our front line medical professionals, and the law enforcement officials tasked with interrupting these crimes.”

The National Center for Disease Control has classified prescription drug abuse as a national epidemic. This epidemic has a significant financial and emotional impact on South Carolina families as well as an economic impact on the state. In 2010, an estimated 30% of South Carolina Medicaid recipients received an addictive opioid prescription at a cost of $24 million to taxpayers.

“The epidemic of prescription drug abuse affects every community in our state,” said SLED Chief Mark Keel. “For those of us in law enforcement, having a coordinated approach through the council can provide a mechanism to help address the challenges of this growing problem.”

“Preventing the spread of the prescription drug abuse problem is a critical priority, and success will require concerted efforts at the local level,” said DAODAS Director Bob Toomey. “The statewide network of local alcohol and drug abuse agencies will be a vocal, active and energetic partner in this initiative.”

“The South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners has the statutory responsibility to hold its licensees accountable for misconduct and deter similar behavior in others,” said Dr. Louis Costa, President of S.C. Board of Medical Examiners. “A few physicians in this state have drifted to the lowest rung of ethical conduct and are selfishly abusing their privilege to prescribe controlled substances in order to generate an income. This, as well as naïveté on the behalf of others, has contributed to a crisis in opioid dependence and abuse in South Carolina. The Board of Medical Examiners will use the full force of the law vested in it to identify and arraign these offending prescribers in order to protect the reputation of the profession and to protect the public, which is paramount.”

The Council will include a representative from each of the following organizations:

• South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

• South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

• South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

• South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services

• South Carolina Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services

• South Carolina Board of Dentistry

• South Carolina Board of Medical Examiners

• South Carolina Board of Nursing

• South Carolina Board of Pharmacy

• A South Carolina solicitor’s office

To view the executive order, .
Nikki Gaskins Campbell
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