Florida Governor Rick Scott’s Remarks as Prepared for Delivery Today, April 14, 2011, before the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee; Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade; Hearing on the Growing Danger of Prescription Drug Diversion
Below are Florida Governor Rick Scott’s remarks as prepared for delivery today, April 14, 2011, before the United States House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee; Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade; Hearing on the Growing Danger of Prescription Drug Diversion (to view additional testimony and Governor Scott's complete presentation with slides, click here.):
Florida
Chairman Bono Mack, Vice Chair Blackburn, Ranking Member Butterfield, and members of the subcommittee, I want to thank you for convening this important hearing on the perils of the illegal distribution of prescription drugs. This dangerous problem is destroying communities in my state and across the nation, so I thank you for your attention.
Last year, throughout my campaign, and in the months since I was sworn in as Florida
Today, one of the most common names when it comes to the diversion of legal pharmaceuticals for illegal use is Oxycodone. If you consider some of the statistics from my state, the scope of our problem is made clear.
Consider these facts that come from an analysis of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) data:
· 98 of the top 100 doctors dispensing Oxycodone nationally are in Florida – concentrated in the Miami , Tampa , and Orlando
· 126 million pills of Oxycodone are dispensed through Florida pharmacies – most of them are in or near the Tampa , Orlando , and Miami
- By far, more Oxycodone is dispensed in the state of
Florida
When confronted with these numbers, a serious problem is plain to see. However, the nature of our response to the problem is sometimes less clear.
The targets for law enforcement have often been the street dealers and addicts – essentially the bottom level of the distribution chain. In fact, one tool that focuses on end users is a database focused on the patient level. This month in Florida
As the database implementation moves forward, I must draw your attention to a serious risk that I believe databases like this pose to the privacy of individuals – most of whom are law-abiding individuals.
As you know, in 2009 the Associated Press reported a massive privacy breach when hackers broke into Virginia
So, while the database in Florida
More important than computer databases, though, is focusing the resources of my administration on a law enforcement solution that starts at the top of the distribution chain – instead of the bottom.
Every day, we see that pharmaceutical manufacturers and wholesalers turn a blind eye when massive amounts of narcotics stream into the same regions of Florida
Since my first days in office, I was told by law enforcement professionals at the state, county and local level that we needed a coordinated, law enforcement response to this criminal plague. Something that, according to law enforcement, had been lacking in Florida
So, recently, I had the privilege of standing alongside representatives of Florida ’s law enforcement community, some of the best professionals in the nation, to initiate an immediate law enforcement response to criminal drug trafficking in Florida
This action, the creation of a Statewide Drug Strike Force, meant that from the highest offices of statewide law enforcement down to the street cops in our cities, we would open the channels of communication and ensure multiagency cooperation. The goal is clear: target the sources of these drugs before they hit the streets.
Until recently, the burden of enforcement has primarily fallen on local jurisdictions. However, our local sheriffs and police chiefs simply cannot continue to tackle this mounting issue alone. They need the assistance of a statewide coordinated effort that provides intelligence, analytical, and investigative support.
Today in Florida Florida ’s Department of Law Enforcement serves as the statewide coordinator to support the work of local law enforcement, and local strike teams are co-led by Florida
In addition, I directed all of the state agencies in Florida that are under my purview to identify investigative resources, licensing and registration information, and analytical research that can be used by law enforcement.
Specifically, I have directed the Florida Department of Health and the Agency for Health Care Administration to provide regulatory and licensing personnel; the Department of Business and Professional Regulation Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to provide sworn investigators. Plus, my colleagues on the Florida Cabinet have authorized the Florida Highway Patrol’s participation, and investigators from the Division of Insurance Fraud are supporting this effort. Attorney General Pam Bondi is working with prosecutors across our state to ensure these criminals are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I am grateful to all of these professionals for their commitment to this important work.
Not only are these efforts focused on Florida
In these first days, I can report that a strike force in Central Florida has already assisted in an out-of-state case last week. Just the other day, I was disappointed to learn that a Deputy Sheriff in South Florida was the first drug trafficking arrest made since the initiation of the Strike Force. At this point it is too early to go into details on these cases, but I can tell you investigations are underway and we expect arrests to continue.
I believe these efforts are the crucial and necessary tools to turn off the supply of drugs into and out of Florida Florida
With my partners in the Florida Legislature, we are moving legislation to limit how doctors dispense narcotics and making sure doctors divest from pharmacies. The role of doctors who have forsaken their commitment to people’s health in exchange for the quick buck of unethical and criminal dispensing cannot be overstated and absolutely must be put to an end.
We will also closely review the activities of wholesalers in Florida
Let me conclude by telling you I believe we can fight this problem and, with the right strategy, I believe we can win. In my opinion, that strategy is centered on a law enforcement solution that focuses resources at the top of the distribution chain rather than the bottom.
I applaud this committee for taking a serious look at the issue and would ask you to also focus your energy at the sources of this problem. Together, if we hold the manufacturers, wholesalers, doctors and pharmacies accountable, we can win this fight.
Thank you.
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