Dan Gelber Takes Aim at 'Pill Mills'

Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach campaigned in Republican rival Pam Bondis backyard on Friday. In front of the Hillsborough County Courthouse in Tampa, Gelber took aim at pill mills.

Prescription-drug abuse in Florida has become an epidemic, largely fueled by pill mills and doctor shopping, said Gelber, who noted that a bill he sponsored on the matter took effect on Friday. As attorney general, I intend to shut these operations down through aggressive enforcement, coordination with local government and law enforcement, and strong, common-sense regulation.

Gelber called for more cooperation between state and local authorities. legislation mandating that doctors run pain-management clinics, and greater outreach. Gelbers team noted that almost 2,500 people in Florida passed away in 2009 due to overdosing on prescription drugs.

These pill mills have infiltrated our local communities, creating a breeding ground for illegal activity and drug abuse that has already taken the lives of thousands of Floridians, said Gelber. The loss of even one life is one too many, and I will take aggressive action to prevent more tragedies from occurring in the future.

Bondi has also pledged to crack down on pill mills if she is elected in November.