Florida Doctors and Pharmacists Beware: Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency for Opioid Abuse Crisis

6 Indest-2008-3By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On May 3, 2017, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency to combat Florida’s opioid-addiction epidemic. According to the governor, the number of overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions. This declaration will allow nearly $30 million in federal funding to be spent for treatment and prevention services.

Given past state actions taken to attempt to eliminate prescription pain medication abuse, physicians writing such prescriptions and pharmacies filling such prescriptions should beware. Get prepared, not only through having a good compliance program, but by contacting and having a good attorney on retainer in the event of a subpoena, raid, search warrant or arrest warrant. Additionally, always talk to your lawyer before speaking with any investigator or special agent about anything.

The Emergency Declaration.

An emergency declaration gives Governor Scott the power to spend immediately without the Legislature’s approval. Therefore, public health officials can move quickly to respond to a crisis. Additionally, the emergency declaration will free up nearly $30 million in federal funds for prevention, treatment and recovery services. These services include workshops focused on addressing the major opioid abuse problem in Florida’s areas hit hardest with this crisis.

The Opioid Epidemic.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015 nearly 3,900 people died across the state of Florida as a direct result of opioid abuse. Governor Scott’s emergency declaration has strengthened the Florida Legislature’s effort this year to address the opioid abuse crisis in several additional proposals.

Among the additional measures state legislators are considering one that rewrites Florida’s drug trafficking statute. The new measure would create tougher penalties for dealers and users, specifically those caught with fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug that can be 100 times more potent than morphine.

For more information and statistics on the opioid epidemic in Florida, click here.

To read one of my prior blogs for physicians prescribing pain medication, click here.

Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys for Opioid Abuse Concerns.

The Health Law Firm routinely represents pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nurses and other health providers in opioid abuse investigations, drug diversion, regulatory matters, licensing issues, litigation, inspections and audits involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Health (DOH) and other law enforcement agencies. Its attorneys include those who are board certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law as well as licensed health professionals who are also attorneys.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Auslen, Michael. “Gov. Scott declares public health emergency over opioid crisis.” Miami Herald. (May 4, 2017).

Ceballos, Ana. “Florida Bolsters Response to Opioid-Addiction Crisis.” Associated Press. (May 4, 2017). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Florida’s opioid abuse crisis, legal representation for opioid prescribing, legal representation for physicians prescribing opioids, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defense lawyer, legal representation for over-prescribing pain medication, Board of Medicine hearing attorney, Board of Pharmacy hearing attorney, Florida prescription drug crackdown, health care defense attorney, legal representation for drug diversion, drug diversion defense attorney, legal representation for health care professionals, health care professional defense attorney, Board of Medicine defense counsel, Board of Pharmacy defense lawyer, Florida health care defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm, attorneys for physicians, pharmacist legal defense attorney, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, Department of Health defense counsel, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Order to Show Cause (OTSC) attorney, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing lawyer

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2017 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Florida Doctors and Pharmacists Beware: Gov. Scott Declares State of Emergency for Opioid Abuse Crisis

6 Indest-2008-3By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On May 3, 2017, Florida Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency to combat Florida’s opioid-addiction epidemic. According to the governor, the number of overdose deaths has reached epidemic proportions. This declaration will allow nearly $30 million in federal funding to be spent for treatment and prevention services.

Given past state actions taken to attempt to eliminate prescription pain medication abuse, physicians writing such prescriptions and pharmacies filling such prescriptions should beware. Get prepared, not only through having a good compliance program, but by contacting and having a good attorney on retainer in the event of a subpoena, raid, search warrant or arrest warrant. Additionally, always talk to your lawyer before speaking with any investigator or special agent about anything.

The Emergency Declaration.

An emergency declaration gives Governor Scott the power to spend immediately without the Legislature’s approval. Therefore, public health officials can move quickly to respond to a crisis. Additionally, the emergency declaration will free up nearly $30 million in federal funds for prevention, treatment and recovery services. These services include workshops focused on addressing the major opioid abuse problem in Florida’s areas hit hardest with this crisis.

The Opioid Epidemic.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2015 nearly 3,900 people died across the state of Florida as a direct result of opioid abuse. Governor Scott’s emergency declaration has strengthened the Florida Legislature’s effort this year to address the opioid abuse crisis in several additional proposals.

Among the additional measures state legislators are considering one that rewrites Florida’s drug trafficking statute. The new measure would create tougher penalties for dealers and users, specifically those caught with fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic drug that can be 100 times more potent than morphine.

For more information and statistics on the opioid epidemic in Florida, click here.

To read one of my prior blogs for physicians prescribing pain medication, click here.

Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys for Opioid Abuse Concerns.

The Health Law Firm routinely represents pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nurses and other health providers in opioid abuse investigations, drug diversion, regulatory matters, licensing issues, litigation, inspections and audits involving the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Health (DOH) and other law enforcement agencies. Its attorneys include those who are board certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law as well as licensed health professionals who are also attorneys.

To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or (850) 439-1001 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Auslen, Michael. “Gov. Scott declares public health emergency over opioid crisis.” Miami Herald. (May 4, 2017).

Ceballos, Ana. “Florida Bolsters Response to Opioid-Addiction Crisis.” Associated Press. (May 4, 2017). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Florida’s opioid abuse crisis, legal representation for opioid prescribing, legal representation for physicians prescribing opioids, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) defense lawyer, legal representation for over-prescribing pain medication, Board of Medicine hearing attorney, Board of Pharmacy hearing attorney, Florida prescription drug crackdown, health care defense attorney, legal representation for drug diversion, drug diversion defense attorney, legal representation for health care professionals, health care professional defense attorney, Board of Medicine defense counsel, Board of Pharmacy defense lawyer, Florida health care defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm, attorneys for physicians, pharmacist legal defense attorney, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, Department of Health defense counsel, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Order to Show Cause (OTSC) attorney, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) hearing lawyer

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2017 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

Study Finds States That Allow Medical Marijuana May Have Less Opioid Use

Headshot of The Health Law Firm's attorney George F. Indest IIIBy George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law

On September 15, 2016, a new study was released from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, that suggests people in states that allow medical marijuana may be using fewer opioid painkillers. Researchers analyzed crash data in 18 states from 1999 to 2013 and revealed that states that allow medical marijuana use saw a reduction in opioid involvement in fatal car accidents.

The Relationship Between Medical Marijuana Laws and Opioid Use.

The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, is the first look at how the relationship of medical marijuana laws might affect the use of opioid painkillers. “After the implementation of a medical marijuana law, there appears to be less opioid use, at least among young and middle-aged adults,” study lead author June Kim said. He’s a graduate student in epidemiology at Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health in New York City.

The researchers used data from the Fatality Analysis Reporting System database of about 69,000 drivers from 18 states who died in auto accidents between the years 1999 and 2013. Tests for alcohol and other drugs had been conducted on the drivers.

In states where medical marijuana law was legal and easily accessible, the study found that drivers between the ages of 21 and 40, had almost half the chances of testing positive for opioid painkillers, than those who crashed before such a law was implemented. The results further add to evidence suggesting that patients with chronic pain may substitute marijuana for a prescription painkiller in states where the option is available.

The study authors stressed that it’s not clear if the opioid painkillers — or, for that matter, marijuana — contributed to any of the car accidents.

Click here to read the published article in the American Journal of Public Health.

To read one of my prior blogs on the use of medical marijuana as a treatment for opioid addiction, click here.

Contact Experienced Health Law Attorneys for Medical Marijuana Concerns.

The Health Law Firm attorneys can assist health care providers and facilities, such as doctors, pharmacists and pharmacies, wanting to participate in the medical marijuana industry. We can properly draft and complete the applications for registration, permitting and/or licensing, while complying with Florida law. We can also represent doctors, pharmacies and pharmacists facing proceedings brought by state regulators or agencies.

To contact The Health Law Firm please call (407) 331-6620 and visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.

Sources:

Ingraham, Christopher. “Study: medical pot means less opioid use.” Orlando Sentinel. (September 16, 2016). Print.

Dotinga, Randy. “Do medical pot states have less opioid abuse?” WebMD News from HealthDay. (September 15, 2016). Web.

About the Author: George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., is Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health Law. He is the President and Managing Partner of The Health Law Firm, which has a national practice. Its main office is in the Orlando, Florida, area. www.TheHealthLawFirm.com The Health Law Firm, 1101 Douglas Ave., Altamonte Springs, FL 32714, Phone: (407) 331-6620.

KeyWords: Marijuana treatment for opioid addiction, alternative addiction treatment, alternative for painkillers, medical marijuana defense attorney, American Journal of Public Health, medical marijuana for patients with chronic pain, substituting medical marijuana for prescription opioid painkillers, lawyer for medical marijuana growers and distributors, health lawyers for marijuana distributors, legal counsel for marijuana growers and distributors, medical marijuana laws, medical marijuana legalization, medical marijuana lawyer, defense attorney, reviews of The Health Law Firm, The Health Law Firm attorney reviews, The Health Law Firm, attorneys for physicians, pharmacist legal defense attorney, Board of Medicine defense lawyer, Department of Health defense counsel

“The Health Law Firm” is a registered fictitious business name of and a registered service mark of The Health Law Firm, P.A., a Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
Copyright © 2017 The Health Law Firm. All rights reserved.

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