BONDI TAKES INITIATIVE ON DANGEROUS DRUGS

It is encouraging to see new Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi
quickly act to curtail the use of dangerous drugs, especially since
Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers seem less than resolute.

Scott immediately eliminated the Office of Drug Control, which had
made a priority of fighting the "pill mills" that proliferate in
Florida and prescribe pain killers wantonly. State officials say
seven people a day die due to the inappropriate use of prescription drugs.

Scott said a separate office wasn't needed to handle the task, and he
may be right. But he has done nothing to replace the office that
coordinated the anti-drug effort among state agencies and had been a
leader in highlighting the threat of pill mills.

Similarly, Florida lawmakers in a special session last year passed an
unnecessary law that requires legislative approval for any government
rule that costs more than $1 million over five years, a ridiculously
low threshold. The measure is clearly aimed at protecting special
interests from public safeguards, and former Gov. Charlie Crist was
correct to veto it during the regular session.

The new law sabotaged tougher regulations for pill mills that
lawmakers had adopted in 2008 and that were scheduled to go into
effect last November. The regulations, which include standards for
pain clinics, inspections and restrictions on advertising, languish
while the unnecessary review is conducted.

In contrast, Bondi has moved briskly to attack dangerous drugs.

She appointed a former state senator, Dave Aronberg, as a special
prosecutor for pain clinic operations. Aronberg, who ran
unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for attorney general, was a
co-sponsor of the anti-pill-mill legislation. He also investigated
prescription drug abuse while working at the attorney general's office.

His expertise should be useful in helping the state clamp down on
unscrupulous operations.

Bondi also promptly ordered an emergency ban of stimulants that are
marketed as "bath salts," once the potential dangers were reported.

The Tribune's Rob Shaw found users sometimes experience dangerous,
cocaine-like reactions, which can include increased heart rates and
blood pressure, anxiety, hallucinations and bizarre, even violent,
behavior. In other states, young men have killed themselves after
using the product.

The powder, which is snorted, smoked or swallowed, is sold online and
in convenience stores and specialty smoke shops.

So Bondi had good reason to issue the temporary ban. She said: "Due
to the violent nature of the side-effects in taking these drugs, the
emergency rule will provide law enforcement with the tools necessary
to take this dangerous substance off the shelves and protect the
abusers from themselves as well as others."

Some vendors say the product is harmless, but that is disputed by
poison centers across the nation, which are reporting adverse
reactions. In any event, the ban will last 90 days. If lawmakers
enact a permanent ban, as Bondi proposes, vendors will get a chance
to make their case.

But there is plenty of evidence the product can be dangerous, and
Bondi was right to respond to the threat. The governor and lawmakers
might consider her example. There should be no lollygagging when it
comes to protecting the public from dangerous drugs.