Prescriptions Killed More Than Street Drugs In 2007
A report released this week by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the Florida Medical Examiner’;s Commission concludes that prescription drugs killed more Floridians in 2007 than illegal drugs.
In fact, the rate of death is reported to be over three times as high as deaths caused by all illegal drugs combined.
The drugs at the top of the list are oxycodone, and methadone. The use of those prescriptions plus cocaine, alcohol, and heroin, all increased.
Law enforcement can direct its energies toward illegal drugs.
Stopping the taking of legally prescribed drugs, whether they were intended for the taker or not, should be the focus of educating Florida’;s families about the dangers of abusing prescription drugs, the report says.
Farah & Farah has helped families recover settlements from defective drugs that have harmed people when taken as prescribed. We know too well that many of the prescription drugs can be just as dangerous as illegal street drugs.
Bill Janes, Director of the Office of Drug Control, says doctors and pharmacists must get involved to help stop doctor shopping.
“Only through a comprehensive, coordinated strategy will we be able to reverse this tragic, unacceptable trend,” he says.
