New Jersey Assembly considers requiring pharmacies to report steroid prescriptions
Federal and state laws do not recognize human growth hormone as a dangerous controlled substance, and therefore do not monitor it. But an investigation that revealed HGH abuse in New Jersey police and fire departments has the state Assembly considering adding the steroid to the state’s prescription monitoring program.
The Press of Atlantic City and Associated Press report the Assembly will consider the measure this week. It would require pharmacists to submit monthly prescription reports for HGH.
An investigation by Newark’s Star-Ledger revealed hundreds of police and firefighters in the state had been using HGH, some prescribed from a Jersey City physician who is since deceased. Some of those prescriptions were linked to increased aggression and reckless behavior.
WHYY’s Phil Gregory will have more on this story later.
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