Experts contend that some of these clinics are merely “pill mills,” a place for drug addicts and pushers to get their pills, with crime and unrest in the community ensuing.

Currently there is considerable controversy with advocates weighing in on both sides of the pain clinic argument. Proponents suggest that to close such clinics would harm those who legitimately need the help, critics counter that the certain crime increase and resultant financial hardship to the surrounding communities demands more scrutiny and regulation. The Pinellas County Commission has considered a moratorium of 180 days or more on new clinics to try and stem the tide of illegal drugs entering the market.

According to Sheriff’s captain Robert Alfonso, who oversees prescription investigations, Pinellas county led the state in 2008 with 376 prescription drug deaths and a soon to be released total for 2009, should indicate more than 400 deaths,. In addition, a 2008 investigation by the St. Petersburg times revealed that prescription drugs killed approximately 3 times more people than illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroine.

While this controversy may continue for some time into the future, missing from this argument of whether to allow more pain clinics to open or not is the unasked question, is there another solution to pain other than drugs?
Some would tell you so. Perhaps it’s time we investigated all possible solutions.

Any drug legalization must be examined for all the effects it creates, not just the short-range benefits. Any person wishing to get the full story on painkillers can get the facts at www.drugfreeworld.org.

And for the person whose drug use has turned into a drug problem, there are also real solutions to addiction. Narconon, a drug rehabilitation program that utilizes the methods of L. Ron Hubbard, has a success rate of more than 75%. For more information on this drug-free method of substance abuse treatment, visit www.narconon.org.