Rick Scotts decision to derail the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is either based on ideological rigidity, or plain simple ignorance.
The attached articles and editorials clearly highlight the absolute necessity to declare a public health emergency and to implement the PDMP immediately!
1. More babies born addicted to pain drugs http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-02-12/health/fl-prescription-drugs-born-addicted-20110211_1_newborns-prescription-drug-winnie-palmer-hospital
a. In 2009, nearly 1,000 babies born in Florida hospitals were treated for drug withdrawal syndrome. The most recent data show no signs of a slowdown. During the first half of 2010, 635 cases were reported.
b. From 2006 to 2009, there was a 173 percent increase in newborns treated at Florida hospitals for drug withdrawal syndrome, according to Agency of Health Care Administration records obtained by the Orlando Sentinel.
2. Why does Gov. Scott oppose Florida prescription drug database? http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-02-12/news/fl-rick-scott-pills-mayocol-b021311-20110211_1_pain-clinics-prescription-drug-pill-mill-epidemic
a. “Scott's move to scrap a prescription narcotic database intended to temper the excesses of South Florida's rogue pain clinics makes no sense. Unless the governor somehow likes the drug tourism, overdoses and other human wreckage spawned by our pill-friendly culture. If it's not government's role to monitor controlled substances, then why bother monitoring anything? Let's just do away with driver's licenses, vehicle registrations and concealed weapons permits too, since cars and guns are legal. The database had support from just about everyone — legislators, law enforcement, responsible doctors and pharmacists and legitimate pain clinics.”
3. Pill mills: Scott, legislators undermining efforts, by Mike Fasano and Nan Rich http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/opinion/fl-pills-oped0213-20110213,0,3980383.story
a. “Legislature is essentially allowing unneeded deaths to continue. It is, therefore, imperative that the legislature get out of the business of approving rules for bills that it has already passed. In the case of the Board of Medicine's rules, lives are at stake. Finally, the governor has eliminated the Office of Drug Control, which provides an important focus on the problem of drug abuse, and coordinates the numerous state agencies affected by this issue. State agencies across the board must deal directly or indirectly with the consequences of drug abuse, including our courts, law enforcement, prisons, foster care system, Veterans' Administration, health departments, mental health programs and even port security agencies. That's why the work of the ODC to coordinate the drug control efforts of each of these agencies is imperative, and why we're disappointed to see Gov. Scott unilaterally shut down this agency by laying off its entire staff. We therefore hope our legislative colleagues will consider taking immediate action to put our tough new pill mill regulations into action, and that the governor will put the Office of Drug Control back to work, and preserve the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. This issue isn't about bureaucracy or the size of government — it's literally a matter of life and death.”
We should not ponder the question why our new Governor is not getting it. Instead, we should take action and develop a collaborative network of allies and supporters across the political spectrum to push back. Now its time to act! You can follow me on Twitter www.twitter.com/dadedoc or at http://floridadocs.blogspot.com
Yours truly,
Bernd Wollschlaeger.MD
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