By TaRhaun Russ
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-947885.mp3
Tallahasse, FL – The effects of pill mills in the southern part of the Sunshine State are spilling over into the panhandle. TaRhaun Russ tells us how Bay County is handling this growing problem.
Major Tommy Ford with the Bay County Sheriff's Office says there are no pill mills in his jurisdiction. But that doesn't stop residents from driving south of the Big Bend to purchase illegal medication.
"People are going down to South and Central Florida to the pain management clinics, the pill mills, and obtaining prescriptions as well as being dispensed opiate pain medication on site there, and coming back to our area. We've had numerous overdose incidents as well as overdose deaths on these opiate pain medications."
Clinics, pharmacies and even doctors' offices are given the name pill mills' once they begin handing out prescription drugs illegally. Ford says he's wrapping up an investigation where three people were arrested with two thousand prescription pills from their possession. He says it's unclear where the pills came from.
State Attorney General Pam Bondi says drug users from neighboring states are using the panhandle to cash in on some illegal tablets.
"I say where the majority of the problem is: Palm Beach, Broward, Miami, and Tampa. But now when I'm meeting with all my sheriffs, I'm hearing its spreading everywhere. The panhandle has a problem because, you know, it's easy for other states to come down here and get their drugs in the panhandle."
Bondi tapped former state senator Dave Aronberg to head up the fight to place a cap on the pill mill problem. In Bay County, Major Ford says some of the common pills popping up are morphine, hydrocodine, and oxycodone. The Sheriff's Office is also working with local medical centers to ensure the mills don't make it to the area.