WYSAC SJS 2016

The State Justice Statistics (SJS) Program is designed to maintain and enhance each state's capacity to address criminal justice issues through collection and analysis of data. The SJS Program provides support to each state to coordinate and conduct statistical activities within the state, conduct research to estimate impacts of legislative and policy changes, and serve as a liaison in assisting BJS to gather data from respondent agencies within their states.

The Wyoming Statistical Analysis Center (WYSAC) is located within the College of Arts and Science at the University of Wyoming. The WYSAC will be conducting one Special Emphasis project (Study Trends in Wyoming Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)) under the 2016 SJS award.

Wyoming proposes to study trends in prescribing patterns of Schedule II and III drugs as recorded through the Wyoming Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP). PDMPs are databases that contain prescribing information of drugs that have high potential for abuse, such as opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, and barbiturates, among others. The PDMP has primarily been used to assist doctors and pharmacists in identifying patients who might be attaining illicit access to drugs through doctor-shopping and fraudulent prescription scams. Through this study, key stakeholders in the chain of providing prescription medication can become a substantial force in the prevention of abuse and diversion. A literature review of prior studies will be conducted before data analysis begins on the project. The study proposed would expand the previous six-year study (2004 – 2009) from 2004 through 2015 which should provide valuable evidence on whether Wyoming’s efforts to fight the drug problem has been successful. The information and data obtained from the PDMP is through an agreement with the Wyoming State Board of Pharmacy which included a letter if support. (CA/NCF)

Note: This project contains a research and/or development component, as defined in applicable law.