Arkansas isn't the only state dealing with the opioid mess, nor is it just a problem on the state level. In Washington, D.C., the other day, folks at the Department of Veterans Affairs had to explain to Congress about the recent jump in opioid thefts from veterans hospitals and clinics.
According to the government's records, a lot of drugs are just, well, disappearing at the VA. Reported incidents of drug losses at federally run hospitals jumped from 272 in 2009 to 2,926 in 2015. That's not a jump. That's a surge.
Investigators at the Government Accountability Office say, oh, about 85 to 90 percent of VA hospitals have problems with keeping up with inspections and the like. And the VA acknowledged that its employee drug testing to date has been "spotty."
As one might expect, the Associated Press says only a small fraction of VA doctors, nurses or pharmacy employees were ever caught and disciplined.
The VA says it plans to add inspectors, improve drug testing and update its computers to better keep up with drugs. Maybe that'll help.
It would also help if the "leaders" at the Veterans Affairs department took this seriously enough to investigate more of these thefts. And punish those who Just Can't Say No.
Editorial on 03/01/2017