BUSH VOWS CRACKDOWN

Governor: Prescription-Drug Use Too Deadly To Ignore

In a recent series of articles, the Orlando Sentinel focused on the
alarming spread of prescription-drug abuse in Florida and the tragic
consequences for Floridians caught in its grip. Reporter Doris
Bloodsworth has exposed a problem that is too widespread and deadly to
ignore, and I hope her work will spur public support for a
comprehensive, coordinated approach to solving it.

Three years ago, Florida authorities noticed a disturbing trend of
rising prescription-drug abuse. Law enforcement found widespread
trafficking in illicit pharmaceuticals. Treatment centers reported a
shift among addicts, away from meetings with drug dealers in dark
corners in favor of doctor/pharmacy shopping. Internet drug sales
expanded, adding a new avenue of access for addicts and dealers.

Not surprisingly, Florida emergency rooms reported a significant
increase in drug overdoses from pharmaceuticals. Medical examiners
confirmed that the number of prescription-drug-related deaths in
Florida each year now exceeds the total deaths by cocaine and heroin
abuse combined. Every day, five Floridians lose their lives to
prescription-drug abuse.

It is not enough to mourn the lost or damaged lives; we must stop this
epidemic. We will continue to increase treatment opportunities for
addicts. We will continue to aggressively pursue and prosecute those
who prey on their vulnerabilities. And we must eliminate access to
illicit prescription drugs.

Today, addicts and dealers can exploit cracks in our prescription
system to obtain large quantities of potent prescription drugs. For
the past two years, with my strong support, Sen. Mike Fasano and Rep.
Gayle Harrell have sponsored legislation to create a prescription-drug
validation program to close these gaps, while maintaining the sanctity
of the doctor-patient relationship. Although the bill was endorsed by
the medical and law-enforcement communities, and passed overwhelmingly
by the Senate, the House has yet to bring this important legislation
to a final vote.

We will introduce the legislation again next spring, and I am
encouraged by the commitment of House Speaker Johnnie Byrd to see it
passed. With support from Floridians, we will create a validation
system that keeps drugs out of the hands of dealers and addicts, while
protecting the privacy of Floridians with legitimate prescriptions to
fill.

Florida continues to fight drug abuse on all fronts -- prevention,
treatment and law enforcement. However, as with most diseases,
effective prevention is better than the cure. A prescription-validation
system will prevent addicts and those who supply them from obtaining
pharmaceuticals for illicit use. I applaud Fasano and Harrell for
their commitment and tenacity regarding legislation to achieve this,
and thank the Orlando Sentinel for raising awareness of this issue. A
statute with an equal focus on prevention and privacy will be a
valuable tool in the fight against prescription-drug abuse in Florida.