Floridians are calling for a state registry of prescription drugs, spurred on by the 20 percent jump in fatal prescription drug overdoses last year.
Thirty-six states have prescription drug registries, which allow them to spot forgeries, and also catch doctors who are overprescribing painkillers and other drugs.
Unfortunately, the cost of a registry is over $1 million, and three previous efforts by the legislature have resulted in failure. However, grassroots support is growing as residents become aware that prescription drug deaths now outnumber deaths from illicit drugs by a factor of 3 to 1.
To learn more about the movement:
- read this St. Petersburg Times piece