Health News
The "pill pipeline" from Florida to Central Appalachia and other regions has not been closed despite the passage of laws in Florida to tighten controls on prescription painkillers, Bill Estep reports for the Lexington Herald-Leader. (Herald-Leader photo: Pain clinic in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
"The prescription-monitoring system it mandated might not be in place for months, and there are concerns about continued funding for the program when it is up and running," Estep writes, noting that many Kentuckians leave the state to get painkillers because it is one of the few states with a prescription-monitoring system. "The program, a national model, allows doctors to see whether a patient has been doctor shopping, or going to multiple physicians to get prescriptions for drugs. Police also use the system to investigate whether legal drugs are being sold illegally."
Florida passed a law in April 2009 to set up a monitoring system, but setting it up "took many months," Estep reports. A contractor was chosen Dec. 21 but the losing bidder plans to appeal and Florida officials don't expect the system to be operating until June. And after a federal grant runs out, it may not have enough money to operate because of state budget problems. (Read more)
This item is also posted on The Rural Blog, a daily digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, published by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, at http://irjci.blogspot.com.
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Health News
Florida is slow to close valves on 'pill pipeline'
"The prescription-monitoring system it mandated might not be in place for months, and there are concerns about continued funding for the program when it is up and running," Estep writes, noting that many Kentuckians leave the state to get painkillers because it is one of the few states with a prescription-monitoring system. "The program, a national model, allows doctors to see whether a patient has been doctor shopping, or going to multiple physicians to get prescriptions for drugs. Police also use the system to investigate whether legal drugs are being sold illegally."
Florida passed a law in April 2009 to set up a monitoring system, but setting it up "took many months," Estep reports. A contractor was chosen Dec. 21 but the losing bidder plans to appeal and Florida officials don't expect the system to be operating until June. And after a federal grant runs out, it may not have enough money to operate because of state budget problems. (Read more)
This item is also posted on The Rural Blog, a daily digest of events, trends, issues, ideas and journalism from and about rural America, published by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, at http://irjci.blogspot.com.
- New Florida Laws Helping Stem Flow Of Pills, But Loopholes Remain And Trade Is Shifting To Other States
Though pill mills continue to be a big problem in Florida, where lax laws have fueled Kentucky's prescription pill trade, there is evidence that the tides are slowly turning in the Sunshine State. "Registered pain clinics in Florida have dropped from...
- National System Needed To Battle Pill Abuse, Newspaper Says
Despite Georgia's recent move to implement a system that will track prescription pill use, a national system is needed to help prevent the problem flowing "to the next crack in the system," the Lexington Herald-Leader says in an editorial today. ...
- Fla. Governor Agrees To Implement Prescription Drug Monitoring
"Florida Gov. Rick Scott reversed course Thursday and said he will allow a prescription drug monitoring program that Kentucky officials have demanded to help block the flow of illegal prescription drugs coming from the Sunshine State," the Lexington Herald-Leader...
- Ky. Officials Ramp Up Criticism Of Plan To Cancel Florida Drug Monitoring; U.s. Drug Czar Says Fla. Governor May Lack Facts
Kentucky officials continue to rail against Florida Gov. Rick Scott's proposal to cancel his state's prescription-drug monitoring program, a move they argue would keep the pipeline open for Kentucky dealers who head to the Sunshine State...
- Drug Czar Coming To Kentucky To Look At Prescription Pill Abuse
The White House drug czar will visit Kentucky next week to investigate prescription pill abuse, a problem he called "heartbreaking." In a four-day tour, Gil Kerlikowske, President Obama's chief advisor on drug issues, will meet with law-enforcement...