Florida Pharmaceutical Trends
- Most popular diverted drugs – hydrocodone & oxycodone
Legitimate Use
- Hydrocodone – Schedule II narcotic; analgesic potency similar to or greater than oral morphine;
- Hydrocodone trade names – Lorcet®, Lortab®, Vicodin®
- Oxycodone – Schedule II narcotic; analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain of long duration;
- Oxycodone trade names – OxyContin®, Perocet®, Roxicet®
Effects
- Short term – analgesia, sedation, euphoria, respiratory depression;
- Long term – severe respiratory depression, cold & clammy skin, reduction in blood pressure & heart rate, coma, respiratory arrest, death
Diversion Methods
- Prescription fraud (forged, stolen, altered prescriptions)
- Pharmacy thefts; employee thefts
- Inappropriate prescribing
- Internet websites
- Doctor shopping
- Pain management clinics
Florida Diversion Response Teams
- Target pharmaceutical drug abuse statewide ;
- 8 Task Forces – Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Pensacola & Fort Myers;
- DEA, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Florida Medicaid Fraud personnel, state & local agencies
Pharmaceutical drug abuse in Florida
(Source: Florida Medical Examiners Reports)
- In 2006 (Jan-June) there were 4,310 pharmaceutical-related deaths
- In 2005 there were 9,047 pharmaceutical-related deaths
- In 2004 there were 8,576 pharmaceutical-related deaths
- In 2003 there were 7,545 pharmaceutical-related deaths
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