Prescription drug related deaths soar in Florida

Prescription drug related deaths soar in Florida

Press release from Drug Free America Foundation

According to the 2009 Medical Examiners report just released, drug related deaths in Florida account for 8,563 of the 171,300 total deaths reported. The Florida Office of Drug Control responded to this report, stating that prescription drug abuse is one of our greatest public health threats.

Figures show that prescription drugs killed 2,488 Floridians last year, equivalent to approximately 7 deaths per day. The drugs that caused the most deaths were Oxycodone, all Benzodiazepines, Methadone, Ethyl Alcohol, Cocaine, Morphine and Hydrocodone. Even more troubling is that Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg reported the largest numbers of fatalities.

Calvina Fay, executive director of Drug Free America Foundation and a Pinellas County resident, lent her expertise to this issue. Fay said, Florida has been battling prescription drug abuse because of the egregious prescribing practices of those who run these pay by cash pill mills dispensing dangerous and addictive medications. People in this county are sick and tired of watching others profit from the addiction of their loved ones. Recent legislation that regulates pain clinics and prescription drug monitoring hasn’t come quickly enough.

Residents should also understand that this issue must be a joint public safety effort. Parents and caregivers need to be vigilant and lock their medications, as well as properly dispose of old medication. In order to push back against this problem, everyone must be on board! concluded Fay.