TREASURE ISLAND, Fla. – Experts from Footprints Beachside Recovery Center, a rehabilitation facility specializing in alcohol and opioid substance abuse and addiction treatment in Treasure Island, announced their support for the new legislative proposals Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Tuesday.
According to Gov. Scott, the new proposed legislation would institute a three-day limit for opioid prescriptions, unless strict conditions are met for a seven-day supply. It would also require all healthcare professionals that prescribe or dispense medication to participate in the Florida Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, a statewide database that monitors controlled substance prescriptions, and institute additional reforms to fight unlicensed pain management clinics, require continuing education courses on responsibly prescribing opioids, and create new opportunities for federal grant funding.
Additionally, the proposal included a $50 million increase in funding for the state’s 2018-2019 budget, which would be earmarked for substance abuse treatment, counseling and recovery services, and funding for The Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council, as part of the effort to combat opioid abuse in Florida.
“These proposals are a good start in the ongoing war against opioid abuse and addiction,” said John Templeton Jr., president of Footprints Beachside Recovery Center. “Opioid addiction is a very serious and growing epidemic facing our state and our nation. While these are steps in the right direction, conquering this crisis will continue to be an uphill battle.”
According to the latest data from the CDC, opioids killed more than 33,000 people in the U.S. in 2015, more than any year on record, and nearly half of those deaths involved a prescription opioid.
“Most importantly and as always, we want people to know that there is help available for those who are battling substance abuse or addiction,” Templeton said. “If you or someone you love is battling abuse or addiction, we’re here to help and we hope you’ll call us.”
About Footprints Beachside Recovery Center:
Founded in 2008, Footprints Beachside Recovery Center is a small, private, holistic substance abuse treatment center for adults and is located in Pinellas County, Fla. Footprints provides specialized treatment plans for patients from throughout the U.S. and around the world. Opioid addiction recovery programs at Footprints focus on ensuring safe withdrawals and often combine holistic treatment with medication assisted therapies to reduce cravings and provide more successful recovery outcomes for patients.
For media related inquiries, please contact our Tampa PR firm at 813.279.8335 or news@judgepr.com.
-30-
