Legislation has been signed into law in Rhode Island that requires all healthcare providers within the state to register with the controlled substances database to help prevent prescription drug abuse.
About 20 percent of Rhode Island healthcare providers are currently registered with the controlled substances database. Under the new law, the remaining providers will have to register with the database over the next 19 months, according to a Providence Journal report.
Every time a prescription for narcotics, tranquilizers or stimulants is filled in Rhode Island, it is recorded in the database. Through the database, healthcare providers can see if a patient is filling prescriptions for controlled substances at multiple pharmacies and receiving prescriptions for the drugs from multiple physicians, according to the report.
Healthcare providers can also use the database to notify state regulators if they suspect a patient is abusing prescription drugs, according to the report.
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