By Regan McCarthy
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wfsu/local-wfsu-967547.mp3
Tallahassee, FL – The Florida legislature passed a bill tightening rules protecting against so-called pill-mills. Regan McCarthy reports the bill is intended to reverse the state's reputation as a prescription drug abuse epicenter.
Florida legislators gave a unanimous okay to a bill cracking down on doctors dispensing medicine irresponsibly. The measure limits a doctor's ability to dole out controlled substances by requiring they be prescribed either electronically or on counterfeit resistant paper. Republican Senator Mike Fasano says the bill will also stop the flow of drug abusers from entering the state.
"No longer will those individuals from those states be coming here to get their pills, their narcotics. They're going to have to go somewhere else."
Governor, Rick Scott, and Attorney General, Pam Bondi, showed strong support for the measure with a personal appearance during the final vote. Bondi made the measure one of her top priorities and helped smooth out disagreements between the House and Senate ensuring passage in both chambers. A pill-mill is an illegitimate pain-management clinic which supplies dealers and addicts with prescription painkillers. Most of their clientele come from out of state.