HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. 75

(By Delegate Perdue, Moye, Hatfield, Hartman, Guthrie, Marshall, Barill, Ferns, Shaver, Brown, Martin, Manypenny and Ellem)

Urging the Governor of Florida and the Florida State Senate Legislature not to repeal Florida’s prescription tracking system.

    Whereas, West Virginia has a prescription drug abuse problem; and

    Whereas, Even with West Virginia’s drug monitoring system, which tracks controlled substances purchased to attempt to reduce the misuse of prescription drugs, drug dealers have found an alternative route for obtaining prescription medications; and

    Whereas, This is being done by taking “patients” to Florida where pain clinics prescribe huge amounts of powerful prescription medications with little or no regard to likely diversion and misuse; and

    WHEREAS, West Virginians concerned about prescription drug problems and West Virginia law enforcement officials were heartened when Florida passed drug tracking legislation and applauded Florida’s enlightened decision; and

    Whereas, Media outlets have recently been reporting that the Governor of Florida and the Florida State Legislature are proposing to eliminate the drug tracking system as a cost cutting measure in Florida’s proposed budget; and

    Whereas, This “efficiency” will have a devastating effect on the misuse of prescription drugs in Florida, in West Virginia, and in other states as well; and

    WHEREAS, The West Virginia Legislature, having concern for thousands of already addicted persons and thousands more potentially addicted persons asks: “Is it worth the cost of creating new drug addicts and the cost of treating these drug addicted persons and the cost of incarcerating drug dealers to save a reported $500,000?”; and

    WHEREAS, The West Virginia Legislature finds that the costs of health care, drug treatment and incarceration will far outweigh the savings, both in Florida and West Virginia; therefore, be it

    Resolved by the House of Delegates

    That the West Virginia Legislature urges Governor Rick Scott, State President Mike Haridopolos, Speaker Dean Cannon and the Florida State Legislature not to repeal the Florida drug tracking system in the interest of present and future prescription drug addicted persons; and, be it

    Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is directed to send copies of this Resolution to Florida Governor Rick Scott, State Capitol Building, 400 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-0001; Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, 404 State Capitol Building South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1100; and Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, 420 State Capitol Building, 402 South Monroe Street, Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1300.