Pubdate: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 Source: Tampa Tribune (FL) Copyright: 2011 The Tribune Co. Contact: http://www2.tbo.com/static/tools/contact-us/ Website: http://www.tampatrib.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/446 BONDI TAKES INITIATIVE ON DANGEROUS DRUGS It is encouraging to see new Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi quickly act to curtail the use of dangerous drugs, especially since Gov. Rick Scott and state lawmakers seem less than resolute. Scott immediately eliminated the Office of Drug Control, which had made a priority of fighting the "pill mills" that proliferate in Florida and prescribe pain killers wantonly. State officials say seven people a day die due to the inappropriate use of prescription drugs. Scott said a separate office wasn't needed to handle the task, and he may be right. But he has done nothing to replace the office that coordinated the anti-drug effort among state agencies and had been a leader in highlighting the threat of pill mills. Similarly, Florida lawmakers in a special session last year passed an unnecessary law that requires legislative approval for any government rule that costs more than $1 million over five years, a ridiculously low threshold. The measure is clearly aimed at protecting special interests from public safeguards, and former Gov. Charlie Crist was correct to veto it during the regular session. The new law sabotaged tougher regulations for pill mills that lawmakers had adopted in 2008 and that were scheduled to go into effect last November. The regulations, which include standards for pain clinics, inspections and restrictions on advertising, languish while the unnecessary review is conducted. In contrast, Bondi has moved briskly to attack dangerous drugs. She appointed a former state senator, Dave Aronberg, as a special prosecutor for pain clinic operations. Aronberg, who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary for attorney general, was a co-sponsor of the anti-pill-mill legislation. He also investigated prescription drug abuse while working at the attorney general's office. His expertise should be useful in helping the state clamp down on unscrupulous operations. Bondi also promptly ordered an emergency ban of stimulants that are marketed as "bath salts," once the potential dangers were reported. The Tribune's Rob Shaw found users sometimes experience dangerous, cocaine-like reactions, which can include increased heart rates and blood pressure, anxiety, hallucinations and bizarre, even violent, behavior. In other states, young men have killed themselves after using the product. The powder, which is snorted, smoked or swallowed, is sold online and in convenience stores and specialty smoke shops. So Bondi had good reason to issue the temporary ban. She said: "Due to the violent nature of the side-effects in taking these drugs, the emergency rule will provide law enforcement with the tools necessary to take this dangerous substance off the shelves and protect the abusers from themselves as well as others." Some vendors say the product is harmless, but that is disputed by poison centers across the nation, which are reporting adverse reactions. In any event, the ban will last 90 days. If lawmakers enact a permanent ban, as Bondi proposes, vendors will get a chance to make their case. But there is plenty of evidence the product can be dangerous, and Bondi was right to respond to the threat. The governor and lawmakers might consider her example. There should be no lollygagging when it comes to protecting the public from dangerous drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom