Alaska Senate passes database law to curb Rx drug abuse

ANCHORAGE, Alaska A state Senate bill that became law in Alaska Wednesday will create a database to prevent abuse of prescription drugs.

Under the law, pharmacists will be required to enter the names of doctors who make prescriptions, for what drugs and for what patients. Individuals will be able to view information about themselves, but information about others will remain confidential. Records will be expunged after two years, and people can challenge incorrect information.

Alaska’s governor, Sarah Palin, allowed the bill to become law, but refused to sign it out of privacy concerns about the database.