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DEA delivers message

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Posted 9/15/2015 11:58 AM (GMT 0)
Fort Lauderdale Florida- The drug enforcement administration has delivered a message to pharmacists--start filling legitimate pain prescriptions.

WESH 2 News was there for the Florida pharmacy association conference in Ft Lauderdale,a few miles from a South Florida stretch of road dubbed the "pain corridor of the world" The DEA addressed fallout from the pill mill crackdown.

"Those types of pharmacies have nothing to do with legitimate medical needs" said Susan Langston with the DEA's Miami field offices.

Langston urged a room full of pharmacists to fill legitimate prescriptions.

Not everyone is going to fit into a checklist but still need their prescription filled. Langston said.

The DEA has been blamed by pharmacists,the attorney general and the governor for prescription access problems,something the DEA denies.

As long as your doing your job,doing your best and doing what you can not to participate in drug abuse and diversion,then you're not going to have any problem with the DEA"

Gerald Capek has been a pharmacist for 50 years. He's turned away legitimate patients because he didn't have enough in stock.

WESH 2 news asked him if it was frustrating to turn away patients. Absolutely he said. The wholesalers set arbitrary limits what they are going to sell you Capek said. Some pharmacies blame wholesalers for setting quotas on the amounts of drugs they'll sell to pharmacies--a practice the DEA said it has nothing to do with an has criticized.

All agree something needs to change and the DEA Is pledging to help.

A week from today a state subcommittee will meet in Tallahassee. The group is tasked with coming up with ideas,rule changes,that will help patients with legitimate pain prescriptions get their medications. Those idea's will then be voted on at the Board of Pharmacy meeting next month.

"Special section: State of Pain"
Posted 9/15/2015 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Thought since we have so many Florida members this might be interesting. It sure will be to see what they do but unless they can force the wholesalers to remove the ridiculous limits it doesn't matter if they say give them out like Halloween candy because if they don't have enough to cover the barely few they're filling now what's going to happen when they let up on some of the restrictions and can fill more?
Posted 9/15/2015 4:56 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you for this info. I'm in N.J. but still think this is good news.
Posted 9/26/2015 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
First I have had no problems getting mine filled with the exception of Walgreens last year coming up with"the checklist" switched pharms and no more problems.

Second the DEA can say whatever they want but they have absolutely no control over the quota the wholesalers set. That being sad doesn't matter if the DEA says hey give everyone coming through your door 200 oxy does it? If the pharmacy doesn't have it,can't get it,they can't dispense it whether you are a dealer,CPer or dying,it's not there to give.

Point being if they don't find a way to get the wholesalers off the quota on some of the meds nothings going to change and the same people are going to have the same problems getting meds filled.
Posted 9/26/2015 4:37 PM (GMT 0)
I'm in N.E. Alabama.I haven't had any problems since I've used the same Mom & Pop for 10 years.

But I've seen them turn people down that seemed to just have a prescription for pain meds.They told them about the DEA and monthly supplys.

I kind of felt sorry for them but how can they not have a regular Pharmacist.

There are probably at least 40 pharmacies in the city I live in.They're all wide open every day.


Hope all y'all have relaxing low-pain weekends.

Rick
Posted 9/26/2015 5:11 PM (GMT 0)
Didn't the DEA get into trouble, I recall reading a story about how the DEA was posing as Medical Personel and getting patient records, didn't they get into trouble for this?

The DEA has way to much power. Uncontrolled power leads to a monarchy type Government and those days are gone.
Posted 9/26/2015 11:01 PM (GMT 0)
Charteux, the DEA can get a subpeona for records. Obtaining evidence illegal can jeopardize a case and negatively impact a case. So the DEA wouldn't be posing as someone they aren't.
Posted 9/27/2015 6:04 AM (GMT 0)
Rick I use a locally owned pharmacy as well and at first I was a bit leery because they asked for a copy of my Disability award letter,most recent Mri report and I have to fill all meds from primary as well as PM there unless they don't have something. I have also seen them turn people away for not having any other meds but narcotics and I am talking about a month's supply not the under 24 pill rule that ERs around here adhere to.

After talking to the Rph I was at least informed that they do ask that of their regular patient's to protect themselves from scrutiny from the DEA,seems having medical records to verify your need for certain meds ensures that they are not filling meds for diversion to the street. Whether this system works or not I have no clue but I know in 2012 this pharmacy was named in a wrongful death litigation by a family of a young man that overdosed on hydro along with a DR. The pharmacy was found to be within it's rights and all charges dismissed but the Dr surrendered his license and settled for a undisclosed amount.

I am guessing that with Florida having a abundance of not so stellar drs pharmacies like this one take extra precautionary measures to ensure that you need the meds your Dr is giving you.

As long as I don't have to deal with the chains I will give them pretty much anything they want.
Posted 9/27/2015 6:23 AM (GMT 0)
My pharmacy wants you to have all your meds filled there, not just the pain meds. I was told that the ratio of pain meds/all others filled, was too great. It's located in the lobby of the clinic where my pain doc has his practice. There is also outpatient surgery and multiple other specialities, so lots of scripts for pain meds. I don't know if they made up the rule, or if it was told to them by an outside source, but it sounded legit to me. It's not a chain, but a locally owned apothecary. They will deliver to your house for no extra charge-love them.

Heck, I even get my cat's thyroid meds filled there :)
Posted 9/27/2015 9:34 AM (GMT 0)
Howdy,I am a newbie,my user name "yankeebob",but I have lived in Texas since 1973,but was born and raised in New England,that is why "yankeebob"...lol...Just wanted to say howdy to y'all.
Posted 9/27/2015 11:56 AM (GMT 0)
Hello and welcome yankeebob.If you want start your own Thread so everyone can welcome you.

The top left click "New Topic".

Welcome to a great forum.

Take care.

Rick
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