Pubdate: Sat, 21 Feb 2015
Source: Gainesville Sun, The (FL)
Copyright: 2015 The Gainesville Sun
Contact:  http://www.gainesville.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/163
Author: Jesse A. Lipnick
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?232 (Chronic Pain)

DEA CRACKDOWN CAUSING LEGITIMATE PAIN PATIENTS TO SUFFER

The state of Florida recently endured the "pill mill crisis," a 
proliferation of narcotic medication that resulted in the reported 
overdose deaths in Florida of approximately 7 people per day.

This crisis was the result of drug dealers paying people to pose as 
patients in pain while presenting to Florida physicians. Physicians 
and pharmacies were either duped or knowingly participated until 
2011, when the Florida Legislature dealt with the crisis by passing 
legislation to regulate prescriptions of narcotic medications.

Simultaneous with the Florida legislative action, the Drug 
Enforcement Administration (DEA) investigated, fined and suspended 
pharmacies that were dispensing allegedly inappropriate 
prescriptions. The DEA investigation resulted in million-dollar 
settlements with national pharmaceutical companies with operations in Florida.

These pharmacies must regulate themselves more tightly than ever in 
order to minimize the risk of further DEA actions. Unfortunately, the 
pharmacies have gone too far and patient care is now suffering.

The dispensing policies of national chain pharmacies have created a 
shortage of legitimate use pain medicine in Florida. Fearing the DEA, 
the non-chain, private pharmacies have also followed suit. Under 
pressure these pharmacies are now observing strict quotas for the 
sale of controlled substances.

I'm not referring to the shady guy on the street corner, but instead 
about regular, everyday people who require well regulated pain 
medication to function. Under the guidelines established by the state 
of Florida, legitimate pain medication clinics see patients with 
acute and chronic pain. Some of these patients have terminal 
illnesses, some have debilitating arthritis and/or trauma induced 
sources of pain.

Through multi-modality treatments including behavioral counseling, 
physical therapy, chiropractic treatment, massage, acupuncture and 
medications, many of these patients remain functional members of our society.

Because the DEA has not established clear acceptable guidelines for 
pharmacies, many pharmacies have chosen to tighten their prescription 
dispensing policies to the point that patients, without warning, 
suddenly are told their prescriptions cannot be filled. People are suffering.

In response to this situation, the Florida Medical Association 
convened a meeting with representatives from the Florida Board of 
Pharmacy, the DEA, the Florida attorney general, the Florida Retail 
Association, the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians, 
the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine and the Florida Society of 
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. The various meeting 
participants expressed their positions, but unfortunately the meeting 
did not result in any resolution. The representative for the DEA 
denied being the source of the problem, or that there was in fact a 
problem to discuss.

Of course, the DEA is not an agency of health care. Its job is to 
protect the U.S. citizens from illegal use of drugs. To that end the 
DEA has succeeded on its mission in Florida.

However it was obvious the legitimate needs of suffering patients was 
not the concern of the DEA.

I believe the current situation will not change until the American 
public demands Congress, which regulates the DEA, to swing the 
pendulum back. Things have gone too far.

Our politicians need to realize that while it is vitally important to 
prevent inappropriate ordering and dispensing of narcotic 
prescriptions, the pill mill crisis in Florida is not what it was in 
2011. That period is over. The DEA watchdog is creating a pain 
medicine shortage for patients who need these medications to function.

I urge those of you who are affected or know someone affected by this 
situation to contact your members of Congress and express your desire 
for patients with legitimate medical needs to always be able to 
receive their necessary medicines for relief of pain.

Jesse A. Lipnick, M.D., is board certified in physical medicine and 
rehabilitation with added qualification in pain medicine. He 
practices in Gainesville and in Chiefland with Southeastern 
Integrated Medical (SIMED). He serves as vice president for the 
Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and is a board 
member for the Alachua County Medical Society.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom