Hernando County Sheriff Announces "Pill Mill" Initiative

Will we be seeing more prescription drug and pain clinic prosecutions out of Hernando County in 2011? Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhus hopes so.

Nienhuis told the media that the top priority in his new position will be to end the rampant illegal use of prescription drugs in Hernando County. He wants a new county ordinance that would place stricter regulations on the area’s pain clinics.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says that Hernando County had 24 deaths caused by prescription drugs in the first half of 2010 — double the statewide average per capita.

Former Governor Charlie Crist signed a state law last year that would require clinics to go through yearly inspections. New Governor Rick Scott has placed a hold on new legislation though.

As of December, authorities said, Hernando had 16 pain clinics in the application process or registered with the Florida Department of Health. Florida law provides no penalty for failing to register though – so there may be additional clinics that are not readily discoverable.

According to the sheriff’s office, the Hernando pain clinics draw people from around the country with less expensive pharmaceuticals and larger quantity prescriptions. Law enforcement claims that it is not uncommon for people to buy hundreds of pills at one time from the clinics.

Prescription drugs are the focus of an increasing number of federal drug investigations. Anyone who believes that they may be the subject of such an investigation in the Tampa Bay area and surrounding counties should contact a Tampa federal criminal defense attorney immediately. Much beneficial work on a case can often occur prior to the execution of an arrest warrant.

See also:

• Tampa Area Doctor Charged with Overprescribing Pain Meds
• Doctor from Tampa & St. Pete Pain Clinics Indicted on Drug Charges
• Another Tampa Area Doctor Charged with Illegal Prescriptions
• Several Arrested on Hernando Prescription Drug Charges
• Former St. Petersburg Pharmacist Pleads Guilty to Prescription Fraud