Florida Prescription Drug Abuse Remains A Problem

Two Florida CVS pharmacies were raided on Saturday by agents of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to Reuters, although the details of the raids have not been released from the DEA agency, a news conference has been scheduled to take place on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. Florida time. Given the fact that approximately seven people living in the state of Florida die each day as a result of prescription overdose, our Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorneys have a strong interest in stopping prescription drug abuse in the state of Florida.

News of this recent raid comes just a couple months after other reports surfaced in mid-November that the CVS pharmacy sent letters to physicians in Florida that the pharmacy would no longer fill Schedule II prescriptions. Schedule II drug such as oxycodone, morphine, and cocaine are known to have a high risk for drug abuse which can cause the death of a person. Moreover, many of the deaths caused from the over dosage of these dangerous drugs have been linked to medical facilities which illegally prescribe or administer drugs, or as most commonly known as pill mills.

Disappointingly, it appears to be relatively easy for abusers to purchase from these pill mills. All they have to do is visit one of these facilities, receive little to no medical evaluation, and pay cash for their visit. More frustrating is the report from the Orlando Sentinel that reveals that during the year 2010, 90 of the top 100 oxycodone-purchasing doctors were from the state of Florida. Drug abuse is a serious problem which destroys families and communities, and it is sad to see that our citizens have fallen into drug abuse from the negligence of unscrupulous doctors.

If your loved one has died as a result of painkillers you should consult with an attorney to obtain advice about filing a Fort Lauderdale painkiller lawsuit. The physicians and medical facilities which prescribe or administer these deadly painkillers owe a duty to their patients and breach this duty when they fail to adequately caution their patients to becoming addicted to these powerful mediations. And when death has occurred, eligible family members could be entitled to recover monetary damages for their harm.

Hopefully, the Florida prescription-drug-monitoring database will curtail this type of activity. Effective September 1, 2011 providers who dispense controlled substances are required to report to the Electronic-Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substances Evaluation program (E-FORCSE) by electronic means, any controlled substance dispenses within seven (7) days. The purpose of the database is to collect, store and monitor controlled substances which are classified as Schedules II, III, and IV drugs. Also, its goal is to assist health care providers with information about the dispensing of these medications as well as guide them in their decision to prescribe the drugs to their patients.

Our Fort Lauderdale medical malpractice attorneys are here to answer any questions which you may have as a result of you or your loved one being seriously injured, or when death has occurred in your family as a result of dangerous painkillers. If you know of someone who is addicted to these medications encourage them to seek treatment immediately.  

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