Kentucky to Study Controversial Pain Pill Laws

Kentucky officials will start a yearlong study next month to determine the effects of controversial new laws designed to curb prescription pill abuse.

The Courier-Journal reports the Cabinet for Health and Family Services has contracted with the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy’s Institute for Pharmaceutical Outcomes and Policy on the study, which will run July 1 through June 30, 2014.

David Hopkins, who manages the state’s prescription drug monitoring program, said the study will look at several areas including changes in prescribing patterns, the impact on drug-treatment centers and whether the laws have had unintended consequences.

Those to be surveyed for the study include doctors, dentists and licensing boards. Researchers will also review data from the prescription drug monitoring program and statistics from hospitals and substance abuse centers.