FDA/DEA/PDMP/UDT: Alphabet soup or sensible and integrated risk management?

Steven D. Passik, PhD; Kenneth L. Kirsh, PhD; Robert K. Twillman, PhD

doi:10.5055/jom.2015.0255

Authors

Steven D. Passik, PhD
Kenneth L. Kirsh, PhD
Robert K. Twillman, PhD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/jom.2015.0255

Keywords:

urine drug testing, prescription drug monitoring program, substance use

Abstract

Objective: Both prescription drug monitoring programs (PDMP) and urine drug testing (UDT) are recommended as parts of an ongoing risk management approach for controlled substance prescribing. The authors provide an editorial and commentary to discuss the unique contributions of each to promote better clinical decision making for prescribers.

Design: A commentary is employed along with brief discussion comparing four states with an active PDMP in place to three states without an active PDMP as it relates back to findings on UDT in those states from a laboratory conducting liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry.

Conclusions: The commentary focuses on the place of both tools (UDT and PDMP) in risk management efforts. The argument is made that relying on a PDMP alone would lead to clinical decisions that may miss a great deal of problematic or aberrant behaviors.

Author Biographies

Steven D. Passik, PhD

Millennium Research Institute, San Diego,California; Vice President, Clinical Research and Advocacy, Millennium Health, San Diego, California.

Kenneth L. Kirsh, PhD

Millennium Research Institute, San Diego, California; Vice President, Clinical Research and

Advocacy, Millennium Health, San Diego, California.

Robert K. Twillman, PhD

Director of Policy and Advocacy, American Academy of Pain Management, Sonora, California.

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