For several years, Florida has been at the forefront of the prescription drug abuse problem in America. New data reveals that the death toll in Florida due to oxycodone and other dangerous prescription drugs has reached epidemic levels. Prescription drug deaths increased by 9% in 2010 compared with 2009, despite aggressive efforts on the part of state and federal drug enforcement officials. For the second year in a row, prescription drugs deaths in Florida outnumbered illegal drug deaths.
There were 9001 drug-related deaths in Florida in 2010. In more than half of these deaths, toxicology reports found at least one prescription drug in the bloodstream.
In 1500 cases, the powerful painkiller oxycodone was the direct cause of death. This was an increase of 28% compared to 2009.
The proliferation of prescription drug clinics in Florida has turned it into the leading source for illegal prescription drugs throughout the Southeast portion of the U.S. Drug addicts and dealers are able to easily obtain prescription drugs at so-called pill mills run by unethical doctors. In June, Florida Governor Rick Scott signed new legislation that will penalize doctors who write an excessive number of prescriptions for painkillers and will tighten control over the statewide prescription-drug monitoring database.
Oxy is Very Commonly a Cause for Overdose
Data for 2011 is not yet available, but Governor Scott hopes that the new law will reduce the number of prescription drug deaths in the state. The Governor has called the battle against prescription drug abuse in his state “personal” since his brother has abused drugs for many years.
At a press conference earlier this week, Governor Scott reported that sales of oxycodone in Florida are down by 17% for the first half of 2011. (There were still 226 million doses of oxycodone purchased, which seems like a high number for a population of about 18 million people). Since the launch of a statewide Drug Enforcement Strike Force in March, there have been 937 arrests related to illegal prescription drug distribution. More than 250,000 pills and nearly $1.7 million in cash have been confiscated. The arrests included 17 doctors.
According to the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), more than 5 million Americans over the age of 12 take prescription pain-relievers for reasons other than pain each year, putting themselves at risk for addiction, overdose and death. SAMHSA also reports that in 2009, admissions for treatment of prescription painkiller addiction accounted for almost 10% of all substance abuse treatment.
