Pill mill controversy more hype than reality

There is hard-fought controversy over how or if to restrict the operation of pain management clinics. Governor Rick Scott has shot down a central database of customers. Yesterday a Florida House panel concluded having the database does nothing to curb distribution of pain pills such as Oxycodone. There seems to be  hysteria in Florida and specifically South Florida due to the large number of pain management centers in the Tri-County area and the related number of pills being distributed. One may wonder, why the hysteria? Is it the media, the Sherrif's Office? Is it based on facts?

The controversy is over the annual deaths of Floridians from overdosing on prescription drugs. The numbers specifically from Florida are all over the place from 4-9 people each day die in Florida from overdosing on prescribed drugs. What is often not touted by those advocating against pain management clinics is who is responsible for those deaths. There has been no evidence they are all directly related to the pills obtained specifically at the clinics. In fact, the deaths are often a result of other mitigating factors including physical and mental issues.

Not that libertarians would support such measures, however if the County Commission was so concerned with the deaths of Palm Beachers they would outlaw fried foods, force us to eat our fruits & vegetables while making certain we exercise everyday. The leading cause of deaths in Palm Beach County is heart disease, not prescription medication or running red lights. Impeding the free market for political gain should be unacceptable to Palm Beachers and Floridians alike.

In 2009, the Libertarian Party of Palm Beach County had issued a news release blasting the County Commission restricting new pain clinics from opening in the County. Libertarians feel strongly the free market should be allowed to operate at its fullest and not be perverted by legislators.

Palm Beach County does have places where people "abuse the system", however placing more restrictions on clinics will only cause the prices of illegally obtained pills to rise which in turn will cause more crime. The clinics have a legitimate need in our community and to punish the many for the actions of a few is not, and has never been, the answer to solving a problem.

One thing is clear through the entire controversy - no matter how much power the Palm County Commission or the Florida legislature thinks it possesses, it cannot control the simple economic rule of supply and demand. We have found this to be true whenever the government attempts to ban or restrict things the public demands. The public will always obtain what it wants either through legal or illegal means.