The Alabama Senate has approved a statewide database to help cut down on prescription drug abuse.

The database would keep track of all prescriptions of controlled substances.

Senators say that information will help investigators find doctors who over prescribe drugs to individual patients, as well as people who go doctor shopping to get medications from more than one physician.

The bill's sponsor says he began working on the bill largely because of deaths from overdoses of painkillers like Oxycontin.

A $300,000 federal grant will pay for the database's creation.

wtvynews4.com Extended Web Coverage

OxyContin Facts

• OxyContin is a newer, long-acting and powerful prescription pain medication.

• OxyContin is a long acting form of Oxycodone.

• Dosage strengths are available in 10, 20, 40, 80mg.

• OxyContin has been substituted on the streets for heroin.

• As of April 2001, there has been 120 deaths nationwide attributed to OxyContin.

• OxyContin is a respiratory depressant. When used with other depressants such as alcohol, this can make a person's breathing stop, cardiovascular system stop functioning, and can make the heart stop.

• Symptoms of overdose include, slow breathing, seizures, dizziness, weakness, loss of consciousness, confusion, cold clammy skin and small pupils.

• Side effects of taking OxyContin include, constipation, dryness of the mouth, lightheadedness, nausea, headache, and sweating.

  Source: Web Reports