Article
Return to Press Room
Author: Jeff Luther
Posted: Jun 29, 2012 at 3:06 PM
Posted In:
Sheriff Announcements
Media
Images:
None
Video:
None
Audio:
None
Interact
Views: 1479
Email Friend: Send this article to a friend by email. (Feature Disabled)
Print-Friendly: Send the contents of this article to your printer.
With the closure of the Stuart Pain Management clinic located at 1146 21st Street in Vero Beach as a result of a statewide, multiagency crackdown on pill mills, there are many in this community who have suddenly lost access to their source of drugs. Some of these patients have legitimate chronic pain issues that need medical intervention. However, many have addiction problems and are dependent on massive doses of prescription narcotics. Without these medications, or any managing therapy to replace them, these patients will become sick and experience pain. As a result, experience tells us that many are driven to criminal behavior such as theft, burglary and robbery in order to find new sources of the drug to which they have become addicted.
Physicians and ERs also need to be aware of new patients with poorly maintained or spotty medical records and poorly managed, poorly documented pain issues, especially since these patients will be seeking immediate refills of narcotics. ER doctors will ultimately become the last resort for many of these patients who cannot get their prescriptions filled in a more controlled manner. The ER may see an influx of people with a multitude of pain complaints and withdrawal symptoms, trying desperately to get their narcotics filled.