Nine states and territories are on board with a new Defense Health Agency (DHA) initiative to cut down on prescription drug abuse.
DOD and civilian doctors will now be able to track all of a patient’s controlled substance prescriptions to ensure there is no overlap that can lead to abuse or overdose, Military Times reported.
DOD hopes to expand the data-sharing agreement nationwide, which “will give the Military Health System and civilian sector alike a powerful tool for opioid safety that also meets our unique requirements for operational security,” Navy Vice Adm. Raquel C. Bono, DHA director, said.
Congress called for the Military Health System Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in the latest defense authorization bill.
DOD photo by Todd Kabalan
Snap of the Week
Naval Academy plebes climb the Herndon Monument, a tradition symbolizing the successful completion of the midshipmen’s freshman year. The class of 2027 completed the climb in 2 hours, 19 minutes and 11 seconds. Navy photo by Stacy Godfrey
