My POV of the Ryan Haight Act

Jessica Gerlemann
Professor Harrell
En 1333
16 November 2010
The Ryan Haight Act Will Not Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
The Ryan Haight Act was proposed by Joseph T. Rannazzisi, the Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Drug Enforcement Administration. He believes that the Act will stop the sale of online drug abuse by making buying prescription drugs online without a prescription illegal. The Act updates the controlled substances act to set forth both permissible and impermissible conduct for internet web site operators. The legislation on this will balance the legitimate benefits derived from using the internet to provide consumers with controlled substances obtained through valid prescriptions with the need to combat illegal online distribution to combat illegal online distribution to combat illegal online distribution of these same drugs. Schedule III & IV medications are often illegally purchased through the internet. That is anti-anxiety medications and hydrocone operations. The internet has become one of the fastest growing methods of diverting controlled pharmaceuticals that is done mostly now through the internet. The controlled substance laws and regulations were written before the advancement of fax machines and online pharmacies. The article talks about the prescription drug abuse by Michael Jackson and other celebrities like Anna Nicole Smith and how many people find it easier to abuse prescription drugs than illegal drugs. The article talks about how she also took a lethal dose and how since the 1970’s there has actually been an increase of deaths to prescription drug abuse.
Patrick J Egan Partner of Fox Rothschild LLP talks about the cons of the Ryan Haight Act to prescription drug abuse. He says that by criminalizing the sale of controlled substances without a valid prescripton by online pharmacies, the Ryan Haight Act fails to attack the source of prescription drug abuse. He stands on the issue saying drug users normally have multiple superior sources to acquire medication and if it is in their means they will do so. In 2006, 17.4% of the 17-year old population had used pain relievers for non-medical use. In addition to pain medication diet pills are commonly purchased through online pharmacies. Most majority of prescription drug abusers get it from their friends and relatives. The minor impact of requiring online pharmacies to only distribute controlled substances with a valid prescription would not be attacking the source of non-medical use of pain relievers. The benefit to low-income Americans and elderly of having the ability to purchase prescription medication from online pharmacies would be gone. So therefore it is said that the issue of the need of online pharmacies outweighs risks of adults and teens purchasing pain medication from online pharmacies. It is also said in the article that the undertreatment of pain as a major health problem in the U.S. has led to development of initiatives to address the multiple alleged barriers responsible, said Manchikanti, founder and CEO of the American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and an associate clinical professor of anesthesiology and perioperative medicine at the University of Louisville.
· Clemmitt, M. Pros and Cons of the Ryan Haight Act Curbing Prescription Drug Abuse
· October 9, 2009: Publish Date; November 11, 2010 accessed
· Source: CQ Researcher
· Thesis: The Ryan Haight Act Will Not Curb Prescription Drug Abuse
· Evidence: Death and lethal doses by celebrities show that if there is access to it that prescription drug-abusers will find it just the same as illegal drug abusers do. Celebrity deaths.
· The article has a very high and appropriate merit for the subject. The examples of deaths by prescription drug abuse are very clear and the article is very factual. Graphs and prescription drug abuse rates are recorded and included. Very helpful and not prejudiced.