NACDS has been engaged in a media campaign in Florida to raise awareness of an often-overlooked side of the prescription drug abuse story—patients encountering barriers to medications they legitimately need for effective pain relief.
NACDS knows the message it wants to convey, but what does the media want to know? Here are some of the questions news outlets have been asking NACDS spokespersons during radio interviews, editorial board discussions and other media outreach efforts
- Can a pharmacist deny filling a prescription if something doesn’t seem right with that prescription?
- Do doctors have access to the prescription drug monitoring programs?
- Can the databases/systems talk to each other to find out information about a patient’s medical and prescription history to help pharmacists when evaluating prescriptions?
- Is the increasing number of baby boomers coming of age, many of whom may be taking more prescription drugs for their health needs, having an impact on the number of these medications being available?
- If there is a shortage of controlled substances, why can’t the government just increase the limits for quotas or have the manufacturers just make more of those medications?
With considerable preparation leading up to each of these media opportunities, NACDS was able to answer the media’s questions on this complex issue by focusing on topics such as corresponding responsibility and the Government Accountability report on drug shortages and quotas. State legislative and regulatory efforts were also identified during discussions with journalists on these questions as well.
