If my memory serves me correctly over those years.

1) DEA gets sniff something is wrong and illegal prescription pedaling maybe happening.
2) DEA requests the data from pharma companies.
3) DEA looks at the data specifics of their investigation comparing to national and geographical data.


When I think of 1-3, I have to take into account our laws about Illegal search and seizure. There is no way the DEA is going to be allowed to collect the pharma pill distribution data and data mine it to open investigations.

Now we are faced with pharma companies notifying the DEA that something is not right.

That is the sticky point.

My life's moral and ethical compass would hope pharma companies would make an effort to analyze data and determine the DEA should be notified while protecting privacy.

I also will say when a doctor prescribes opioids, it is up to the patient to determine if they need them or "just use them up". Each individual has a different pain tolerance level. When I had third degree burns, I am fortunate that I did not need to use many at all because I do have high tolerance to pain.

Back to your point, doctors are getting to much blame. There are doctors that are setting up opioid shops by letting the word out that: "just come in and say you have back pain to leave with a prescription". These guys are drug dealers, not doctors.

Yeah, society needs to find the best legal way that pharma\DEA can get the "doctor drug dealers".