Resolution 409: Opposition to Companies Selling DEA Numbers to the Public

Whereas, Drug abuse is a rampant problem throughout Texas and America; and

Whereas, Any person can go to this Web site, pay $1,600, and look up any physician's DEA number; and

Whereas, A sophisticated individual can call in a prescription for a controlled substance to a pharmacy and get it filled, utilizing a physician's DEA number and name; and

Whereas, This individual could call in prescriptions to multiple pharmacies and thus illegally obtain large amounts of the C3, C4, and C5 classes of controlled substances and either abuse them or sell them; and

Whereas, The Texas Medical Association is adamantly and unequivocally opposed to drug abuse and diversion; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That Texas Medical Association release a strong position statement in strict opposition to any Web site wherein DEA numbers are available in a way that makes the information accessible for drug diversion, drug abuse, and other malfeasance; and be it further

RESOLVED, That this resolution be brought to the American Medical Association in pursuit of federal legislation criminalizing the act of revealing physician DEA numbers online.

Relevant TMA Policy

95.021 National Drug Policy .  TMA endorses the consensus statement of the Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy as a rational approach to informing national drug policy on illegal drugs; promotes medical approaches to substance use disorders by continuing to encourage physician involvement in case identification, diagnostic assessment, clinical therapeutic interventions, medical evaluation and management, and ongoing chronic disease management, as appropriate, for cases of alcohol and other drug addiction; opposes the legalization of illegal drugs as contrary to the best interests of public health and that support for the positions of the Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy ought not be construed as support for such legislation.  Alcohol and tobacco should be included and emphasized in any program to reduce drug use in the United States (CPH Rep. 5-A00).

Physician Leadership on National Drug Policy Consensus Statement : Addiction to illegal drugs is a major national problem that creates impaired health, harmful behaviors, and major economic and social burdens.  Addiction to illegal drugs is a chronic illness.  Addiction treatment requires continuity of care, including acute and follow-up care strategies, management of any relapses, and satisfactory outcome measurements.

We are impressed by the growing body of evidence that enhanced medical and public health approaches are the most effective method of reducing harmful use of illegal drugs.  These approaches offer great opportunities to decrease the burden on individuals and communities, particularly when they are integrated into multidisciplinary and collaborative approaches.  The current emphasis--on use of the criminal justice system and interdiction to reduce illegal drug use and the harmful effect of illegal drugs--is not adequate to address these problems.

The abuse of tobacco and alcohol also is a critically important national problem.  We strongly support efforts to reduce tobacco use, including changes in the regulatory environment and tax policy.  Abuse of alcohol causes a substantial burden of disease and antisocial behavior which requires vigorous, widely accessible treatment and prevention programs.  Despite the gravity of problems cause by tobacco and alcohol, we are focusing our attention on illicit drugs because of the need for fundamental shift in policy.

As physicians, we believe that (1) it is time for a new emphasis in our national drug policy by substantially refocusing our investment in the prevention and treatment of harmful drug use. This requires reallocating resources toward drug treatment and prevention, utilizing criminal justice procedures which are shown to be effective in reducing supply and demand, and reducing the disabling regulation of addiction treatment programs; (2) concerted efforts to eliminate the stigma associated with the diagnosis and treatment of drug problems are essential. Substance abuse should be accorded parity with other chronic, relapsing conditions insofar as access to care, treatment benefits, and clinical outcomes are concerned; (3) physicians and all other health professionals have a major responsibility to train themselves and their students to be clinically competent in this area; (4) community-based health partnerships are essential to solve these problems; and (5) new research opportunities produced by advances in the understanding of the biological and behavioral aspects of drugs and addiction, as well as research on the outcomes of prevention and treatment programs, should be exploited by expanding investments in research and training.

TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006