The prescription drug abuse epidemic: Non-medical use of prescription drugs is now the nation's second leading cause of accidental death. Recent trends and data.

The response: Evidence suggests that state prescription drug monitoring programs (PMPs) are effective in curbing prescription drug diversion and abuse. How can they have even greater impact? Learn how the Center of Excellence is helping PMPs address the problem. Read our mission statement.

Strategy update: PMPs play a key role in the Office of National Drug Control Policy’s 2011 Prescription Drug Abuse Prevention Plan. See the press conference announcing the plan and a PMP Center of Excellence briefing document summarizing how the plan involves PMPs.

The Center in the news: SAMHSA policy letter cites COE report on use of PMP data in opioid treatment programs - Center director John Eadie testifies for a U.S. Senate committee hearing on prescription drug abuse, testimony here - a USA Today editorial in support of prescription monitoring cites the Center, and Join Together Online carries the Center’s feature article on PMPs.

PMP update: The Department of Veterans Affairs will now be permitted to share prescription history information with PMPs, a major step toward improving health care and reducing prescription drug abuse among veterans, update here.