In 2015, opioid-related deaths practically rivaled those caused by car accidents, could adapting electronic prescription technology prevent prescription abuse? Here are four thoughts from Vice.
1. Nearly 2.1 million Americans are dependent on prescription opioids according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
2. Imprivata has created Confirm ID — a technology that simplifies the two-factor-authentication the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency requires to electronically write prescriptions for controlled substances.
3. The electronic prescription market is fraught with legislation, but measures are being proposed that would loosen regulations. Imprivata is hoping that its technology will eliminate traditional pen and paper prescription abuse.
4. President of the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence Mark Parrino is hesitant to say the new technology could eliminate all fraud, and lower the number of opioid abusers. Although he believes it would lessen fraud, he also thinks there would be an uptick in illegal prescription markets.
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