Opioid abuse

Opioid-crackdown bill picks up potentially deadly amendment in Senate

Published on May 2, 2017 in Statewide by Michael Moline

The Senate adopted an amendment Tuesday easing mandatory-minimum prison sentences in a bill cracking down on trafficking in synthetic opioids, including fentanyl and carfentanil. Senate President Joe Negron ruled that Sen. Randolph Bracy’s amendment had passed on a voice vote, following an impassioned debate touching on the drugs’ dangers and the damage minimum-mandatory sentencing has done to communities. The amended legislation awaits a final vote. “Man, this was one of my noncontroversial bills that I filed this session,” Senate sponsor…

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A dangerous consequence of the Eyeball Wars; throwing gasoline on Florida’s wildfire opioid crisis

Published on April 12, 2017 in Peter/Top Headlines by Peter Schorsch

It’s no secret that the United States is in the midst of an epidemic of opioid abuse, overdoses and deaths, with Florida emerging as an epicenter. Nevertheless, several Tallahassee lawmakers, albeit unwittingly, may soon contribute to this wildfire of a crisis, a casualty of the latest battle in Florida’s Eyeball Wars. Few can argue the opioid problem has reached epic proportions. The Washington Post is reporting more than 200,000 deaths from opioid overdose between 1999 and 2015. In 2016, nearly…

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Florida’s drug laws are giving me a pain in the ass

Published on February 14, 2017 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Darryl Paulson

No one disputes that opiate addiction is a national problem. Statistics show that over 52,000 Americans died because of drug abuse, or about 142 people a day. One-third of those deaths are from opioids prescribed by doctors. Although a national problem, Florida led the nation in opioid abuse until recently. Individuals from all over the southeastern United States flooded into Florida to visit our “pill mills.” I-75 was known as the gateway to easy drugs. In fact, the Drug Enforcement…

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Pain, pain, go away: Finding a middle ground in Florida’s opioid epidemic

Published on December 14, 2016 in Statewide/Top Headlines by Darryl Paulson

Opioid abuse is a growing medical problem in the nation and in Florida. In 2015, 52,404 Americans died as a result of drug abuse, or about 142 individuals every day. This makes opioid abuse a greater killer than automobile accidents or gun-inflicted homicides and suicides. About one-third of the deaths are from opioids prescribed by physicians. For several years, Florida led the nation in opioid deaths. I-75 was known as the “Oxy Express,” because so many out-of-state residents headed to…

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