WALTHAM, Mass. (AP) _ New England governors are calling for stronger cross-border monitoring of prescription drugs as part of a regional strategy for fighting opioid abuse.
Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick convened the meeting Tuesday at Brandeis University in Waltham.
Govs. Peter Shumlin of Vermont, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Dannel P. Malloy of Connecticut and Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island also attended. Maine Gov. Paul LePage was unable to attend.
The governors announced an agreement to strengthen the sharing of data on prescription painkillers that officials say can lead to heroin abuse. Malloy said the idea was to cut down on ``doctor shopping'' by patients.
The states have been dealing with a rise in deaths and overdoses from heroin and other opioids.
Shumlin said it is a battle all the states need to fight together.