November 15, 2007

Governor Kaine announced Thursday that the Virginia Prescription Monitoring Program will receive $20 million as part of the plea agreement involving the Purdue Frederick Company, Inc.

John Brownlee, United States Attorney for the Western District of Virginia, will present the funds at PMP’s annual conference on November 16th.

“This money will help the Commonwealth track and fight the abuse of OxyContin and other pain medications. It is a welcome addition in our continuing efforts against drug abuse” said Kaine.

The funds will be placed in a trust account for the operation of the PMP, which collects information on prescriptions dispensed across the state and provides prescriber education. PMP was introduced in the 2002 Virginia General Assembly as a pilot program in southwest Virginia and went statewide in 2006.