To address the growing misuse and diversion of prescription drugs, the Ohio Board of Pharmacy created Ohio’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP), known as the Ohio Automated Rx Reporting System (OARRS). Established in 2006, OARRS collects information on all outpatient prescriptions for controlled substances and two non-controlled substances (gabapentin & naltrexone) dispensed by Ohio-licensed pharmacies and personally furnished by Ohio prescribers. This data is reported every 24 hours and is maintained in a secure database. Drug wholesalers are required to submit information monthly on all controlled substances and gabapentin sold to an Ohio licensed pharmacy or prescriber. Additionally, all medical marijuana sales are reported to OARRS by Ohio licensed dispensaries within 5 minutes of sale. OARRS is accessible via this website or through an integrated electronic health record or pharmacy dispensing system.

OARRS is an indispensable healthcare tool that can be used to address prescription drug diversion and abuse. It serves multiple functions, including coordinating patient care; drug epidemic early warning system; and drug diversion and insurance fraud investigative tool. As the only statewide electronic database that stores all controlled substance dispensing and personal furnishing information, OARRS helps prescribers and pharmacists avoid potentially life-threatening drug interactions as well as identify individuals fraudulently obtaining controlled substances from multiple health care providers, a practice commonly referred to as “doctor shopping.” Additionally, it can be accessed by other users as outlined in this document.

In 2024, OARRS began collecting information on non-fatal overdoses that are treated in Ohio emergency departments. This information is available to Ohio healthcare providers in efforts to allow for safe and appropriate treatment, as well as helping to connect individuals who may be experiencing substance use disorder with resources to assist in recovery and/or to help prevent future overdose events.