Prescription monitoring is crucial for several reasons: 1. Public Health: It helps in identifying trends in drug use and misuse, which is essential for crafting public health interventions. 2. Clinical Decision-Making: Provides healthcare providers with patient history to make informed decisions, potentially reducing the risk of drug overdose. 3. Policy Making: Influences policy and regulations by providing data-driven insights into prescription practices. 4. Prevention of Drug Abuse: Helps in the early identification of substance abuse and implementation of preventive measures.
