A.G. Schneiderman Continues Lauding I-STOP Program
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is hoping a new state law aimed at curbing prescription drug addiction will become a model for the entire nation.
I-STOP, also known as Internet System for Tracking Over-Prescribing Act, is a database that will allow doctors to see all of the prescriptions a patient has had for painkillers.
The bill unanimously passed the Assembly and Senate, and awaits Gov. Andrew Cuomo's signature.
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On Monday, State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman visited Staten Island, where prescription pill deaths shot up nearly 150 percent from 2005 to 2009, to promote the program.
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The bill is the first of its kind in the country to require doctors and pharmacists to check a patient's prescription drug history in real time.
"It makes it a lot harder for people to do doctor shopping, for criminal gangs to organize groups of people that do doctor shopping and it will enable us to deal with the small number of physicians who abuse their prescription writing power," Schneiderman said.
The legislation is aimed at curbing the prescription drug epidemic which is sweeping the nation and is extremely prevalent on Staten Island.
Scheniderman said four out of the five New York City communities with the highest rate of prescription drug addiction are on Staten Island.
The borough also sees more pharmacy robberies than bank robberies.
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"I'm looking forward to seeing the full prescription history of a patient now," said Bob Annicharico, who owns the neighborhood pharmacy Delco Drugs in Eltingville, told WCBS 880's Alex Silverman. "This is definitely gonna make my workplace safer."
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