Pharmacy License

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

Pinellas County has started a new billboard campaign aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse. The billboard message reads, “We’re shutting down Pill Mills in Pinellas County.” The first two billboards were erected on April 1, 2012. Several smaller boards will be put up in the next few weeks, with even more planned for the future. This continues the long-standing battle by Pinellas County law enforcement authorities against pain management clinics that they describe as “pill mills.”  Pinellas County includes the cities of St. Petersburg, Clearwater and Seminole.

The billboard message is a statement from local coalition groups who have partnered with Pinellas County in order to curb the area’s prescription drug abuse problem. In 2010, Pinellas County allegedly had the most occurrences of accidental overdose deaths from prescription drugs when compared to all other counties in Florida.

The intention of Pinellas County in establishing this billboard campaign may be aimed at stopping prescription drug abuse, but the billboards also shed negative light on legitimate pain management clinics and physicians. Although anti-prescription drug abuse campaigns are laudable, these efforts should focus on assisting those with actual prescription drug abuse history, rather than creating a scapegoat out of the pain management industry.

If you work in the pain management industry (physician, pharmacist, pain clinic, pharmacy, etc.) and feel that your medical license, pharmacy license, or business is at risk or is under investigation by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or Florida Department of Health (DOH), please visit our website at www.TheHealthLawFirm.com for more information about this.

Sources Include:

WFTS Staff, “County Sends Billboard-sized Message About Prescription Drug Abuse,”  ABC Action News (Apr. 6, 2012).  From:  http://www.abcactionnews.com/dpp/news/state/county-sends-billboard-sized-message-about-prescription-drug-abuse

“We’re Shutting Down Pill Mills in Pinellas County,” Tampa Bay Newspapers (Apr. 10, 2012). From:  http://www.tbnweekly.com/pinellas_county/content_articles/041012_pco-01.txt

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