Audits will determine how three state agencies measure, evaluate drug treatment programs
HARRISBURG – Prompted by a dramatic increase in Pennsylvania of addiction and deaths related to prescription opioid-based painkillers and heroin, Auditor General Eugene DePasquale today announced the start of three concurrent audits of the state’s opioid-related drug treatment programs.
“Opioid addiction and deaths have skyrocketed nationally, and especially here in Pennsylvania,” DePasquale said, noting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that the commonwealth has one of the highest opioid overdose death rates in the U.S.
“Opioid addiction rips apart families, spurs increases in crime in our neighborhoods, and is tremendously costly in the workplace,” he said. “Effective treatment is one solution to the opioid epidemic, so we must make sure that the tax dollars we spend to end this horrible scourge are directed to treatment programs with positive results.”
The audits will determine the extent to which the state departments of Corrections, Human Services, and Drug and Alcohol Programs are monitoring and measuring the effectiveness of opioid-related drug treatment initiatives.
“The threat from opioid abuse is so great to addicts, their families, and our communities,” DePasquale said. “It is imperative that we all work together to make sure that those who need treatment receive it.
“Through these audits, we hope to provide useful recommendations to help with Pennsylvania’s attack on opioid addiction.”
The review period for each audit will be Jan. 1, 2013 through the end of audit procedures.
SOURCE: Department of Auditor General
