Opiate overdoses were up again last year. Gov. John Kasich is responding by devoting more money to help pharmacists and doctors keep better records.
There are still pharmacists who aren’t using the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System or OARRS - a statewide database to better follow which patients have been prescribed painkillers.
Gov. John Kasich says he wants to help these medical professionals by integrating OARRS with whatever system they already use to keep records.
“So I think the message to Ohioans despite the fact that we still see a tsunami of drugs is that we’re not gonna give up in this state until we win more and more battles and maybe ultimately the war,” Kasich said.
Kasich says the state is ready to put up to $1.5 million a year into helping with this integration.