Join Together
Stay Informed

Sign up for news & alerts

Already signed up?
Login here

What Can I Do?



Continuing Education
Free online courses for addiction counselors LEARN ONLINE

Get Help
Need alcohol or drug help for yourself or someone else? GET HELP

 

Fla. Gov. Pushes for Prescription-Tracking Database
November 3, 2003

Share Share Email
email
Print
print
SubscribeSubscribe
News Summary

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said he would press legislators to establish a prescription-tracking system in order to reduce drug-related deaths, the Orlando Sentinel reported Nov. 1.

House of Representatives Speaker Johnnie Byrd (R-Plant City) pledged to support the measure. During the past two regular sessions, lawmakers failed to pass a prescription-monitoring system.

Purdue Pharma, the Connecticut manufacturer of OxyContin, would provide $2 million in software for the program. The contribution was part of a deal Purdue Pharma made when the state agreed to drop its investigation into the company's marketing of OxyContin. However, the offer is only good until next July.

According to a nine-month investigation by the Orlando Sentinel, OxyContin was linked to 83 percent of the 247 overdose deaths in the state in 2001 and 2002. Most of the overdose victims had a history of medical problems such as back pain; only a fraction were considered strictly recreational users.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

SUBMIT A COMMENT:

Submissions are held for review and approval.
Please read the guidelines before posting.

Name:

Comment:
(limit 250
words)

Enter this word
(help):
Change

Guidelines for comments