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Trip to Tallahassee. We need fewer pills

February 22 2017

Health Quality Subcommittee
I would like to thank the Health Quality Subcommittee for allowing me to speak. I would like to pledge my support for HB 557. This bill reporting the dispensing of Schedule II,III and IV controlled substances is long overdue. I thank Representative Duran for bringing attention to the need in strengthening Florida’s PDMP. We could have used him 6 years ago when Florida was known as the “OXYCONTIN EXPRESS”.
But he is here now.

Other states have declared a state of emergency due to the opiate epidemic. Florida should do the same.

8 of 10 heroin addicts start with the pain pill. We must have legislation for fewer pills.

I have the most recent Florida Medical Examiners Report:

Occurrences of oxycodone increased by 10.5% and deaths caused by oxycodone increased by 20.2% when compared with 2014

We do need money for more treatment beds, we do need more money for Narcan, we do need more money for MAT. But this need will never end without legislation for fewer pills.

Overdose deaths involving prescription opioids have quadrupled since 1999, and so have sales of prescription drugs. From 1999 to 2015 more than 183,000 people have died in the U.S. from overdoses related to prescription opioids. (CDC)
Opioid Pain Relievers (OPR) deaths occur most often in adults ages 45-54 and the age group that has experienced the greatest increase in overdose mortality over the past decade is 55-64 an age group in which medical use of OPR is common. Medical Use (Reviews in Advance – Kolodny)

CMS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Opioid Misuse Strategy

The Medicare population has among the highest and fastest growing rates of diagnosed opioid use disorder.

For prescribers enrolled in Medicare who prescribe Part D drugs:

Percentage of opioid prescriptions issued vs. all opioid ad non-opioid pain management medication prescriptions; vs. referrals to other treatment modalities.

Percentage participating in CMS endorsed training on pain management
Pill Mill Doctor Project, which identifies prescribers with a high risk of fraud, waste and abuse in prescribing Schedules II-IV controlled substances.
Thank you for your time. I can provide the 2015 (most current) Medical Examiners Report, The CMS Opioid Misuse Strategy 2016, CDC guidelines, and the Reviews in Advance.

Please contact Janet Colbert [email protected] for the full reports