Florida's pill mill crackdown has led to the suspension of nearly 80 physician licenses and a murder charge against one pain physician, according to a New York Times report.
In an unusual move described as a "game changer" by a county sheriff, a Florida physician has been charged with murder for the overdose death of a patient who received a prescription for 210 pain pills from the physician a few hours beforehand.
Due to the crackdown, there has been a 97 percent drop in physician purchases of oxycodone prescriptions in Florida, compared with the first six months of 2010; the street price of oxycodone has nearly doubled from last year; and the number of pain clinics on one street in Broward County has fallen from 29 to one in the past year.
Related Articles on the Florida Pill Mill Crackdown:
Florida's New Prescription Drug Database Goes Into Effect
U.S. Attorney Indicts 32 in Florida Pill Mill Crackdown
Florida Shows 17% Drop in Oxycodone Sales This Year