By James Call
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-956492.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The Speaker of the Florida House wants to repeal a drug monitoring database created last year to crack down on so-called pill mill operations. James Call reports, Dean Cannon says the solution to an epidemic of prescription drug abuse lies further upstream.
To speaker Dean Cannon, the numbers alone paint a picture of Florida as America's pill mill. He notes that with just five-percent of the population, the sunshine state accounts for 93-percent of the nation's methadone subscription.
"We are home to 11-percent of the doctors who directly dispense and supply over 85% of the oxycontin in the entire country. Again with less than five-percent of the population. If you look at oxycontin alone Florida suppliers supply 100-times what is supplied throughout the rest of the country combined."
Thirty eight states employ a drug database. Doctors enter prescriptions into it and can determine if a patient obtained a similar prescription from another doctor. It's a tool that can track abuse. Florida's database was scheduled to go on line next year, but Governor Rick Scott stopped it. That's fine with Cannon, who said the idea is shortsighted, akin to having a list of people who have drowned or are about to drown. Cannon said he wants to help people before the fall overboard.
"Tomorrow the House will notice a PCB that has already been distributed to members to ban the direct sales of controlled substances in a physicians' office. It will required controlled substances to be only distributed in pharmacies. People with genuine medical needs and a valid prescription should and should be able to fulfill their prescriptions at a pharmacy and not pay cash for controlled substances in a doctor's office."
About an hour after Cannon announced his plan, Senate President Mike Hardiopolos expressed doubts that it can pass the senate. Haridopolos has called drug tourism a major problem in Florida and wants to find money to get a statewide day ta base up and running.
"Again I think this is a major problem. I've been well on the record talking about how big of a problem it is that is why I've talked with different parents in this case mothers who came to my office. My wife as you know is a practicing physician she knows about the scourge as well. We want to be aggressive about it I'm confident we can come to a conclusion I personally think that a database is a good idea given the overwhelming support the Senate enjoyed last year for it again I don't think we will be moving in any opposite direction."
The House will offer Senators that alternative. The proposal will be sponsored by Spring Hill Republican Representative Rob Shenck.