September 26, 2011

Reps. Johnson, Bubp introduce system to battle meth production and protect consumers

Ohio would become the 18th state to adopt a real-time electronic interstate tracking system for over-the-counter medicines containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine, key ingredients in the illegal drug methamphetamine, under a bill introduced by State Representatives Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Danny Bubp (R-Lake Waynoka).

“This bill is designed to give Ohio law enforcement an effective tool to battle meth production without impeding legitimate consumer access to essential over-the-counter cold and allergy medications,” said Representative Johnson, a practicing physician from Scioto County. “The online tracking system established by this bill is modeled after the systems already used in 17 other states. Consumers benefit from faster checkout times and law-breaking abusers are more effectively identified and prosecuted. We can make progress in the fight against meth with no additional cost to retailers, consumers, or taxpayers.”

Cold medications containing pseudoephedrine or ephedrine as the active ingredient are available over-the-counter. State and federal law limits individual purchases to 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams over a 30-day period. A 30-day supply of typical cold medicine (one pill per day) totals approximately 7.2 grams of active ingredient.

“Currently, many pharmacies track these purchases using paper logs. Paper logs provide no way for a pharmacist to know that a consumer has reached their legal limit, or to prevent an illegal purchase of cold medication,” said Representative Bubp, a former judge and prosecutor in Adams County. “Frequently, by the time law enforcement catches up with an illegal purchase, the active ingredients have already been converted to meth.”

The bill would require pharmacies to join the National Precursor Log Exchange (NPLEx), a web-based database that links pharmacies throughout the country. NPLEx allows pharmacies to electronically capture the same consumer information currently captured on paper logs, check it instantly against the national database and, if appropriate, stop an illegal purchase at the point of sale. Only law enforcement officials have comprehensive access to the information contained in NPLEx.

According to Representative Johnson, “NPLEx saves consumers time at the pharmacy counter, is more secure than current paper logs and gives law enforcement a greatly enhanced tool for tracking illegal meth purchases and stopping meth production before it happens. There is no cost to taxpayers or law enforcement for implementing NPLEx.”

The seventeen states that have already implemented NPLEx legislation include Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington. California, Georgia and New York have NPLEx legislation under consideration. Arkansas and Oklahoma have independent electronic systems that are limited to tracking sales within each state only.

CVS, Meijer, and Rite Aid are already using NPLEx in their Ohio stores. Kroger and Kmart are also in the process of implementing the system.

The bill exempts the requirement to connect to NPLEx if a pharmacy does not have the ability to implement the system, for example if they cannot establish an Internet connection.

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July 15, 2011

Rep. Ruhl Attends Governor’s Signing of K2/Spice Legislation

State Representative Margaret Ann Ruhl (R-Mount Vernon) today announced her attendance at the ceremonial signing of House Bill 64, which bans the possession, use and sale of synthetic drugs commonly known as K2 or Spice and adds six synthetic derivatives of cathinone that have been found in bath salts to the list of Schedule I controlled hallucinogenic substances.

“I am very pleased that this bill was passed by the legislature and signed by the Governor,” Ruhl said. “I appreciate the work of Senator Grendell and the Attorney General's office in adding language to include substances with substantially similar chemical makeup to the list of illegal substances. This additional language allows law enforcement another avenue to help fight to protect our citizens - especially our young people - from these dangerous chemicals.”

Under House Bill 64, penalties for the possession or trafficking of K2 or Spice will be the same as currently enforced for marijuana—a minor misdemeanor for possession and a fifth degree felony if convicted of trafficking in the vicinity of a school or juvenile.

Additionally, the bill adds six synthetic derivatives of cathinone—which have been found in bath salts—to the list of schedule 1 controlled hallucinogenic substances.

House Bill 64 received widespread bipartisan support in the Ohio House and Ohio Senate.

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July 12, 2011

Column from Speaker Batchelder in the Post: Fighting against irresponsible drug use in Ohio

Fighting against irresponsible drug use in Ohio
July 6, 2011

Day after day, there continue to be stories in newspapers around Ohio about irresponsible drug use in our state. This is a problem that cannot be ignored, and under my watch as House speaker, we will continue to address these problems head-on. Drugs do not only affect the lives of those who use them, but their families and friends as well. Improving the livelihoods of Ohioans has to be our main objective as legislators.

Over the past few years, an opiate epidemic has taken hold of Ohio. Whether it is heroin or prescription pain relievers, the problem must be addressed. Nearly 40 percent of Ohio's accidental overdoses in 2009 were from opiates, with roughly four Ohioans dying from it per day. The addicts will often travel from pharmacy to pharmacy, visiting "pill mills," where they can obtain medications for unlawful, non-medical purposes.

Understanding the grip that this has had on many Ohio communities, we passed a major piece of legislation earlier this year to combat prescription drug abuse in Ohio. House Bill 93 curbs prescribers' ability to dole out excessive quantities of controlled substances and gets tough on pain management clinics by strengthening licensing protocol and law enforcement response. It also creates a statewide drug take-back program and requires specific Medicaid reforms to enhance care coordination and consumer education. In the final version of the state operating budget, we provided $400,000 for the state medical board to implement these changes.

Additionally, the General Assembly recently took action to prevent more deaths and accidents in the final version of House Bill 64. Six synthetic derivatives of cathinone, which is found in bath salts, were added to the list of schedule I controlled hallucinogenic substances. House Bill 64 was first introduced to deal with the problem of "K2," or "spice." This synthetic drug mimics the sensational high that is produced by marijuana and has led to a high prevalence of health incidents in many of Ohio's counties. Its effects include hallucination, elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, vomiting, seizures and loss of consciousness. This bill treats spice as being similar to marijuana, banning its possession, use and sale.

The Ohio House has an obligation to pass legislation that will make significant differences in attacking the troubling trend of drug use in Ohio. Although we are not proud to have this problem in our state, we can be proud of how proactive this General Assembly has been to directly address the situation. Our pieces of legislation to take care of this state's drug epidemic are positive steps toward healthier and safer lives for all Ohioans.


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May 31, 2011

Rep. Terry Johnson featured on Ohio in Focus

Rep. Terry Johnson is featured on an episode of Ohio in Focus.

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May 18, 2011

Law to fight prescription drug abuse passes House concurrence, awaits governor’s signature

State Representatives Dave Burke (R-Marysville) and Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) have announced that the Ohio House of Representatives has voted to accept Senate changes to House Bill 93—which will combat prescription drug abuse and reduce the widespread prevalence of “pill mills.”

House Bill 93 will enhance the current Ohio Automated Rx Review System (OARRS), which was established in 2006 to assist health care professionals in identifying drug-seeking behaviors to provide additional oversight. It will also limit prescribers’ ability to personally furnish certain controlled substances, enact Medicaid reforms to improve consumer education and allow for better care coordination, improve licensing and law enforcement for pain-management clinics, and develop a statewide prescription drug “take-back” program.

“I’m very pleased that we have passed House Bill 93 and are one step closer to putting a stop to this epidemic,” said Rep. Johnson, a physician and former Scioto County coroner. “We have an opportunity to close some of the loopholes that have caused many of our neighbors, friends or family members to fall victim to prescription drug abuse and related death.”

“As a pharmacist, the issue of prescription drug deaths is especially urgent to me,” said Rep. Burke. “We’re talking about people’s lives and the emotional toll prescription drug abuse takes on their loved ones. House Bill 93 is a necessary step in the right direction.”

Among Senate changes to House Bill 93 are modifications to the definition of “pain management clinic,” delay on the prohibition on pain management operation without a license by 30 days, and permission for the Bureau of Works Compensation to access OARRS, among other additions.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy reports that prescription drug abuse is the fastest-growing drug problem in the country and the second-most common form of illicit drug abuse among teenagers in the U.S., second only to marijuana.

In Ohio, unintentional drug overdoses surpassed motor vehicle crashes and suicide as the leading cause of injury death in Ohio. It has also been reported that the highest rates in the state for these deaths are in southern Ohio, where seven of the 10 counties with the highest death rates are located.

House Bill 93 passed unanimously and will now move to Governor Kasich for his signature.

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March 17, 2011

Batchelder applauds crackdown on pill mills

Just two weeks after the Ohio House’s passage of House Bill 93—which, among other objectives, will address the rampant prevalence of “pill mills”— the Portsmouth and Plymouth offices of Dr. James Lundeen were raided by local and state agents who believe that the doctor has consistently overprescribed prescription drugs. According to the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation, Lundeen is responsible for 61 percent of all Scioto County narcotics prescriptions in the BWC system.

In response to the swift action taken to make Ohio’s communities safer, Speaker of the Ohio House William G. Batchelder (R-Medina) released the following statement:

“For too long, our communities and families have been poisoned by prescribers who overmedicate their patients or are more concerned about making a few bucks than keeping their patients healthy. We’ve watched as our neighbors and their sons and daughters became affected by this scourge that has reached across this great state, and watched as these instances moved closer and closer to home.

“The investigation into Dr. Lundeen’s office is a powerful first step toward reducing the threat of prescription drug abuse and overdose death. I applaud the quick action of all the state and local officials who responded to this particular individual’s abuse of authority. I truly believe that they helped to save lives throughout Ohio.”

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March 16, 2011

Ohio House passes bill targeting new synthetic cannabinoids

State Representative Margaret Ann Ruhl (R-Mount Vernon) has announced the passage of House Bill 64, which would add specific synthetic cannabinoids to the list of Schedule I controlled substances and impose similar guidelines to those applied to marijuana.

This legislation targets the growing usage of a new designer drug known as K2 or Spice, which mimics the sensational high that is produced by marijuana. The drug has become popular due to its ease of availability but can cause serious side effects. More potent than organic cannabis, K2 has been reported to cause elevated blood pressure and heartbeat, nausea, loss of consciousness, hallucinations and seizures.

“I’m very pleased that this bill passed the House with strong support on both sides of the aisle,” Ruhl said. “House Bill 64 addresses a growing issue of public health and the safety of our families. It is important that our laws regarding drugs are consistent and comprehensive, and this bill is a vital step.”

House Bill 64 passed by a vote of 95-1 and now moves to the Ohio Senate for further consideration.

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March 9, 2011

Burke’s and Johnson’s Rx Drug Abuse Bill Passes Ohio House

Legislation to address prescription drug abuse and strengthen oversight measures passed from the Ohio House of Representatives by a unanimous vote of 97-0. The sponsors of House Bill 93, State Representatives Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Dave Burke (R-Marysville), introduced the bill in early February to combat the growing prevalence of prescription drug abuse and fatalities within the state of Ohio.

House Bill 93 will enhance the current Ohio Automated Rx Review System (OARRS)—which was established in 2006 to assist health care professionals in identifying drug-seeking behaviors—to provide additional oversight. It will also limit prescribers’ ability to personally furnish certain controlled substances; enact Medicaid reforms to improve consumer education and allow for better care coordination; improve licensing and law enforcement for pain-management clinics; and develop a statewide prescription drug “take-back” program.

“This is a great day for this legislative body, the state of Ohio, and the victims of prescription drug abuse and their families,” said Burke, a pharmacist and owner of Dave’s Pharmacy in Marysville. “Finally we have taken a monumental step toward strengthening our communities and building a solid structure for our public health policies.

Opiates alone were responsible for nearly 40 percent of Ohio’s approximately 1,400 overdose deaths in 2009, according to the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services. From 2003 to 2008, opiate deaths in Ohio more than doubled in a jump from 399 to 915 fatalities, with an average of four Ohioans dying each day as a result of overdoses.

In Ohio, unintentional drug overdoses surpassed motor vehicle crashes and suicide as the leading cause of injury death in Ohio. It has also been reported that the highest rates in the state for these deaths are in southern Ohio, where seven of the 10 counties with the highest death rates are located.

“Ohio’s prescription drug abuse epidemic is quickly spreading throughout our homes and our communities,” said Johnson, an osteopathic physician and former Scioto County coroner. “Southern Ohio in particular has suffered a drastic rise in the number of fatalities as a result of prescription drug overdoses. I’m very pleased that this measure passed from the House with strong bipartisan support. Today saw a great step forward in the ongoing effort to rid Ohio of this scourge.”

House Bill 93 will now move to the Ohio Senate for further consideration and debate.

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February 10, 2011

House GOP Members Praise Attorney General DeWine on Efforts to Fight Prescription Drug Abuse

State Representatives Terry Johnson (R-McDermott) and Danny Bubp (R-West Union) joined Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine at a press conference to support his office’s efforts in combating the prescription drug abuse program in Ohio. Yesterday, Reps. Johnson, Bubp, and Dave Burke (R-Marysville) introduced House Bill 93 to enhance statewide programs aimed at combating this epidemic.

“We are so very fortunate to have someone like Mike DeWine who understands the gravity of the prescription drug abuse problem Southern Ohio faces,” Rep. Johnson said. “This is a situation that is measured in lives lost and state government officials must work together to ensure this problem continues to decline.”

The group Surviving Our Loss and Continuing Everyday (SOLACE) also attended the press conference to show their unified support for the attorney general and his efforts. Lead by Joanna Krohn, SOLACE is a group of mothers that have lost children to prescription drug abuse.

“We are so grateful that SOLACE joined us today to show their support,” Rep. Bubp said. “These women have turned tragedy into perseverance as they strive to ensure that others do not have to suffer as they have.”

In a release earlier today, Attorney General DeWine announced that his office is hiring Adams County Prosecutor Aaron Haslam as co-unit coordinator of its Special Prosecutions Unit. Haslam will coordinate the office's efforts with prosecutors and local law enforcement on prescription drug abuse. The Attorney General's Office also is hiring two additional assistant attorneys general with prosecutorial experience who will specialize in prescription drug cases.

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