WELCOME TO THE OXY-TOURISM CAPITAL

The reasons for Florida to implement the Prescription Drug Monitoring
Program "" despite Gov. Rick Scott's opposition "" are painfully apparent.

Recently reported data show that the number of newborns with
drug-withdrawal syndrome continued to increase last year.

Last week, the Orlando Sentinel reported that, in the first half of
2010, Florida officials recorded 635 such cases. The frequency of
reported cases during those six months was, according to the most
recent data available, on pace to exceed the numbers from 2009 ""
when nearly 1,000 babies were treated for the painful symptoms linked
to withdrawal. From 2006 to 2009, Florida experienced a 173 percent
increase in such cases.

The state's numbers don't explain the cause of the newborns'
withdrawal symptoms, but many doctors believe that the increase in
cases is linked to the rising rates of prescription-drug abuse and addiction.

Most mothers are not tested for the presence of such drugs, but the
doctors' hypothesis is supported by the rising number of deaths and
addiction cases tied to powerful, addictive narcotics. Prescription
drugs contributed to the deaths of about 2,500 Floridians of all ages
during each of the past several years, with the numbers rising
annually, according to the Florida Medical Examiners Commission.
Experts believe that the number of drug-related deaths is
substantially understated, in part because medical examiners don't
conduct autopsies after all deaths.

A raid on pill mills in Southeast Florida lasts week underscored the
magnitude of the problem. Federal, state and local agents arrested
clinic operators, many of whom have no medical background, for
dispensing enormous quantities of narcotics "" on a cash-only basis
"" and soliciting clients via phone calls and the Internet.

Florida's failure to implement the Legislature-approved Prescription
Drug Monitoring Program, which would include a trackable database
designed to flag the dispensing of large quantities of narcotics such
as OxyContin, has even drawn criticism from officials in other
Southeastern states.

The critics cite the fact that residents of other states routinely
drive to Florida to buy prescription narcotics, and then return to
sell those drugs. Authorities have found drugs dispensed in Florida
at the scenes of numerous deaths throughout the Southeast.

Despite the pain and suffering experienced by Floridians and
residents of other states "" and the embarrassment of Florida "" Gov.
Scott has proposed eliminating the Drug Monitoring Program. Scott
said the program was ineffective, even though it hasn't been
implemented, and cited concerns about potential costs.

Fortunately, even some skeptics are becoming supporters. Senate
President Mike Haridopolos said Wednesday that he not only wants to
retain and implement the program, but would be willing to fund it
with taxpayers' funds if necessary. "oeWe will get this funded,
because it's a major problem," Haridopolos said. "oeIt is destroying
people's lives. And I think we need to make a vigilant stand and lead
and make sure that Florida is no longer the pill mill capital of America."

Exactly. Implementing and funding the program are worth the effort,
the cost and a showdown with Scott.