McDonough, who directs the Florida Office of Drug Control, said that deaths from prescription drugs now outnumber fatalities caused by use of cocaine and heroin. "The addict finds a more attractive high off prescription drugs, but he's also getting a more fatal high," he said, noting that an average of six people die daily in Florida from prescription-drug overdoses.

In response, McDonough is calling for a computerized tracking system that doctors and pharmacists can use to monitor patient drug use. The system would prevent people from "doctor shopping" to obtain excessive amounts of dangerous drugs. About two dozen other states have such systems in place.

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