DEA crackdown on pill mills may have unintended consequences for patients who need pain medications

1. Pill-Mill Crackdown Hurting Patients With Legitimate Pain
By George F. Indest III, J.D., M.P.A., LL.M., Board Certified by The Florida Bar in Health
Law
Florida has been plagued for years with the reputation of being the "pill mill capital of the
country." Lawmakers needed to do something about prescription painkiller abuse. But, the
crackdown on pill mills has produced unintended consequences. Since 2011, there have been strict
regulations on doctors and pharmacies when it comes to dispensing controlled substances. Click
here to read about Attorney General of Florida Pam Bondi's Pill Mill Initiative.
Additionally, state and federal law enforcement authorities have acted to arrest and prosecute
pharmacists and physicians involved in prescribing and dispensing pain medication.
Real Headache for Hurting Patients.
These challenges for pain patients come after federal and state officials acted to combat an
epidemic of prescription drug abuse in Florida. While the concentrated effort has made a reduction
in the number of deaths related to prescription drugs, patients who suffer from legitimate pain are
often caught in the middle. According to the Orlando Sentinel, many pharmacists refuse to fill pain
medicine prescriptions, which causes physicians to feel as though they are being second guessed.
To read more from the Orlando Sentinel, click here.

2. Patients in legitimate pain often feel targeted and put on trial when trying to get pain medication.
Many physicians have become too scared to write prescriptions for pain medications. When they
do, many pharmacists either cannot or will not fill the prescriptions. Those who really need pain
medications, for example terminally ill cancer patients, maybe forced to go without it.
Has It Gone Too Far?
Many doctors, pharmacists and patients are wondering if it has gone too far in the wrong
direction. The pain is real. The prescriptions are legal. So, why can't patients get the medications
that they need? The solution to this problem is not an easy task. To read a previous blog I wrote
on the DEA crackdown, click here.
(http://www.thehealthlawfirm.com/blog/posts/does-the-dea-use-intimidation-tactics-to-force-do
ctors-and-pharmacists-to-give-up-their-dea-number.html)
To read a priot blog I wrote on what physicians can do to avoid charges of being pill mill
physicians, click here.
Comments?
What do you think about the war on prescription drugs in Florida? Do you think the DEA has
created a problem for patients in legitimate pain? As a pharmacist, how do you verify that
prescriptions you receive are legitimate? Please leave any thoughtful comments below.

3. Contact a Health Law Attorney Experienced in DEA Cases.
The Health Law Firm represents pharmacists, pharmacies, physicians, nurses and other health
providers in investigations, regulatory matters, licensing issues, litigation, inspections and audits
involving the DEA, Department of Health (DOH), and other law enforcement agencies.
If you are aware of an investigation of you or your practice, or if you have been contacted by the
DEA or DOH, contact an experienced health law attorney immediately.
To contact The Health Law Firm, please call (407) 331-6620 or visit our website at
www.TheHealthLawFirm.com.
Sources:
Kam, Dara. "Pill-mill crackdown a pain for the catastrophically ill." Orlando Sentinel. (September
20, 2015). Print
Crawford, Heather. "Florida's pill mill crackdowns hurting those in real pain." First Coast
News. (November 1, 2013). From:
http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/article/333761/10/Pill-mill-crackdowns-hurting-those-in-r
eal-pain

4. Swisher. Skylar. "Florida's pill mill crackdown makes getting meds difficult for 'legitimate
pain' patients." Daytona Beach News Journal. (March 29, 2015). From:
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20150328/NEWS/150329436?template=printart
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: pill mill, doctor, pharmacist, defense attorney, pain management lawyer, license
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pharmacy attorney, Department of Health investigations, pain clinics, over prescribing, pain
management, Florida prescription drug crackdown, Florida prescription drug abuse, prescription
drug trafficking, Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), DEA investigation, Health law, health law
attorney, health care lawyer, The Health Law Firm
"The Health Law Firm" is a registered fictitious business name of George F. Indest III, P.A. - The Health Law Firm, a
Florida professional service corporation, since 1999.
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