Why Did Florida Have So Many Problems With Pill Mills

All I hear about over the last 1-2 years is how Florida's "easy" pill mill doctors have made it so difficult for legitimate patients to get help with their pain. I'm not talking subjective pain but serious objective diagnoses which range from RA, lupus, sickle cell to cancer with mets to the bone. If anyone know how and why this was able to happen so openly for so long I would really like to know. I have visited Florida on vacation and we were shocked at the offers of drug sales at just about every beach and place we went. When we were having trouble getting care in our own state, with the referral of my Oncologist, we contemplated flying to Florida in order to visit a pill mill doc I was so desperate. They were so brazen in that when I called I was told If I didn't have copies of my CT scans or MRIs, that was no problem that for an additional fee (it wasn't anything that struck me as expensive) I could have new ones done on site before seeing the doctor. They basically told me that I could even buy an MRI that showed damage or disease justifying the use of schedule II narcotics. Well it made me angry and sick because these places were EVERYWHERE and this was NOT the route I wanted to take. What would I do if something went wrong, if my doctor decided to drop me, etc. I was filled with guilt and anxiety over just the decision. By the time I became serious about trying it out, my husband call my PCP and Oncologist and was pretty open about our plans and my pain being unmanageable and the were very upset and began to RX some meds (still nothing like what I needed) to help while I was put on a waiting list for PM which took over 1 year to get into. I know this was a big money maker for Florida and surrounding counties and states even but I am still always surprised to hear about the problem spreading to other states and counties and I just don't understand why it happened to begin with and continues to flourish. It seems that there are plenty of doctors willing to risk it all for the cash and it's big money, not petty cash. It also comes with the risk of jail, penalties, loss of life and their reputation. Why would anyone go to school for so long and through so much training to "first do no harm..." and end up doing just that. I think the majority of patients went to make money, but I also know for a fact that there were plenty of patients burdened like me, having a real disease with terrible bone pain and NO WHERE to go in there own back yard which is shameful. If anyone can PLEASE answer, even if you are just guessing, why this was allowed (and to some, still continues) while other states made no provisions for the terminally ill or seriously ill. I remember having an operation around 5-7 years ago and my husband was given a script that only had enough pills for a 24 hour supply so that every day for 2 weeks he had to go and refill this RX, not only causing us a huge inconvenience, but unnecessary and redundant co-pays. I never wish harm to anyone but let's just say this doc could use a kidney stone, just big enough to cause excrutiating pain, but not cause surgery or any long-term complications b/c I have seen ER docs throw narcotic scripts at men with kidney stones, it's as if the pain is palpable to them! I think that would surely be one giant step for pain patients everywhere, lol!

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Hi Lynne,

I'm sorry to hear about the problems you've been experiencing. You're definitely not a lone! Florida isn't the only state that is dealing with this problem, I just think it's gotten a lot worse in Florida particularly. I'm not sure of exactly why Florida residents who have legitimate needs for pain medications are having so much difficulty. I think it's a case of "one bad apple ruins the bunch." Since there are so many "junkies" who abuse the medications and there are many deaths associated with the use of narcotics, the FDA is basically taking away everyone's rights, including those who aren't abusing the medications. I can only imagine how frustrated you and others must feel... Have you every tried any homeopathic alternatives for your pain? I also saw that you mentioned kidney stones, I don't know if you're just using that as a reference or if it's something that you are currently experiencing. I know of a good natural remedy to help pass kidney stones if you'd like me to post back.

Does anyone else have more information/questions/comments to add regarding this?

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