Can We Shut Down Florida Pill Mills?

Many people suffer opioid addiction in the United States today. Among these people, residents of Florida suffer their fair share of deadly overdoses and addictions. So many people wonder if Florida pill mills can be shut down.

Shutting Down Florida Pill Mills

Answering that question about Florida pill mills comes easily if you consider the past several years’ reports. Forbes Magazine reported in 2015 that Florida officials were cracking down on pill mills. This five-year crackdown on pain clinics seemed to be working, according to the article.

In 2013 and 2014 throughout the United States, opioid overdose deaths increased by double digits. Double-digit increases also occurred in heroin deaths. Sadly, American deaths to synthetic opioids like fentanyl increased by 78 percent.

But Florida managed to reverse their opioid overdose death trend, even against the statistics of the whole US. In the 34 months after law enforcement officials started targeting pill mills, over one thousand fewer deaths from pain pill addiction occurred in the state.

All of these lives seem saved, thanks to new state laws in Florida. These laws passed in 2010 and 2011 cracked down on opioid pain clinics with greater oversight. They prohibit these Florida pill mills from giving patients pills on-site. Instead, patients must go to a licensed pharmacy.

The laws also prohibit pain clinic ads. This keeps Florida pill mills from gaining patients through advertising and walk-in response. Finally, the regulations require doctors and clinic owners to adhere to higher standards. Otherwise, they suffer increased criminal penalties.

To clarify the reality of these laws, state and local law enforcement work with the DEA. Together, they arrest Florida pill mill owners, doctors, and other medical staff. The police agencies also seize property and assets, driving home the point of responsibility for breaking laws.

Where People Go for Drugs When Pill Mills Shut Down

Despite the affirmative answer to, can we shut down Florida pill mills, a negative side to the answer rears its ugly head. That is, people who cannot get their opioids anymore turn to street drugs. The best alternative to prescription painkillers is heroin. Sadly, heroin provides the same effects at a lower cost.

One of the biggest dangers of using heroin is not knowing what is actually in the drug. Drug pushers put many additives in their drug formulas to turn a better profit. So some heroin contains fillers–other drugs like fentanyl. This makes using heroin much more dangerous. You never know what you put into your body with street drugs.

Ending the Vicious Cycle of Addiction

Facing the tiring cycle of opioid addiction that may have started with Florida pill mills offers one alternative. That is, entering a quality rehab treatment center to end your opioid addiction. Treatments and therapies you need include:

• Medically supervised detox
• Residential, PHP, IOP and OP levels of care
• Holistic healing methods like art, music, and fitness
• Experiential therapies like a ropes course and hiking therapy
• Individual, group, and family therapy
• Behavioral therapies, such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR
• Dual diagnosis treatment

Beaches Recovery provides all of these treatments, therapies, and services. Beaches is an accredited rehab program with an affiliated opioid, heroin, and oxycontin detox center in Jacksonville FL. Instead of focusing on “can we shut down Florida pill mills,” focus on improving your future through the right treatment. Make the right decision now and call Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532.