Health News
U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers of Eastern Kentucky's 5th District continues to pressure the White House for more action to crack down on "crook doctors operating these pill mills," the Lexington Herald-Leader's Halimah Abdullah reports. (H-L photo by David Perry)
Along with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanen, R-Fla., Rogers has filed a measure that would support state-based prescription drug monitoring efforts; use seized profits from the drug trade to support rehabilitation treatment; tighten prescription standards for some pain drugs; and make prison terms more lengthy and fines more expensive.
The Obama administration says it is doing its part and "is the first to publicly call the prescription abuse problem an epidemic," Abdullah reports. White House officials contend the administration has increased drug busts and has already poured millions into state-operated prescription monitoring programs. "We've been laser-focused on this issue since day one," said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (Read more)
- Florida-to-appalachia 'pill Pipeline' Appears To Be Shriveling
Attorneys general from Florida and Kentucky say the prescription pill pipeline between the two states is beginning to close, reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. They credit new programs and rules in Florida, but Kentucky AG Jack Conway...
- 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...
- Drug Czar Offers Plan To Cut Abuse Of Oxycodone, Related Drugs
The White House drug czar announced today he wants to cut misuse of oxycodone and other opioid drugs by 15 percent in the next five years, and revealed his strategy for how to make that happen. Gil Kerlikowske, the national drug policy director, wants...
- Kentucky Is 'ground Zero' In The War On Drugs, Rogers Says
A Kentucky congressman called "ground zero" in the war against drugs Wednesday as officials gathered in London for the regional meeting of the UNITE Coalition. In attendance was director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowke,...
- 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...
Health News
Rogers, Florida colleague file measure to crack down on 'pill mills'
Along with U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanen, R-Fla., Rogers has filed a measure that would support state-based prescription drug monitoring efforts; use seized profits from the drug trade to support rehabilitation treatment; tighten prescription standards for some pain drugs; and make prison terms more lengthy and fines more expensive.
The Obama administration says it is doing its part and "is the first to publicly call the prescription abuse problem an epidemic," Abdullah reports. White House officials contend the administration has increased drug busts and has already poured millions into state-operated prescription monitoring programs. "We've been laser-focused on this issue since day one," said Rafael Lemaitre, a spokesman for the Office of National Drug Control Policy. (Read more)
- Florida-to-appalachia 'pill Pipeline' Appears To Be Shriveling
Attorneys general from Florida and Kentucky say the prescription pill pipeline between the two states is beginning to close, reports Bill Estep of the Lexington Herald-Leader. They credit new programs and rules in Florida, but Kentucky AG Jack Conway...
- 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...
- Drug Czar Offers Plan To Cut Abuse Of Oxycodone, Related Drugs
The White House drug czar announced today he wants to cut misuse of oxycodone and other opioid drugs by 15 percent in the next five years, and revealed his strategy for how to make that happen. Gil Kerlikowske, the national drug policy director, wants...
- Kentucky Is 'ground Zero' In The War On Drugs, Rogers Says
A Kentucky congressman called "ground zero" in the war against drugs Wednesday as officials gathered in London for the regional meeting of the UNITE Coalition. In attendance was director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, Gil Kerlikowke,...
- 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...