1. (a) There is a Prescription Drug Monitoring Program in the Department.

2. (b) The mission of the Program is to:

   1. (1) Assist prescribers, pharmacists, and public health professionals in:

      1. (i) The identification and prevention of prescription drug abuse; and
      2. (ii) The identification and investigation of unlawful prescription drug diversion; and
   2. (2) Promote a balanced use of prescription monitoring data to assist appropriate law enforcement activities while preserving the professional practice of health care providers and the access of patients to optimal pharmaceutical care.
3. (c) To carry out its mission, the Program shall monitor the prescribing and dispensing of all Schedule II, Schedule III, Schedule IV, and Schedule V controlled dangerous substances and the dispensing of naloxone medication by all prescribers and dispensers in the State.

Added by Acts 2011, c. 166, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2011. Amended by Acts 2014, c. 651, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2014; Acts 2016, c. 147, § 2, eff. Oct. 1, 2016; Acts 2019, c. 531, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2019; Acts 2022, c. 224, § 1, eff. Oct. 1, 2022; Acts 2026, c. 6, § 1, eff. June 1, 2026.