2018-06-29

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New Restrictions on Opioid Prescriptions
This weekend marks the
start of major changes to the
way Florida doctors can prescribe
opioid medications.
More than 15 million
prescriptions for opioids
were given to Florida patients
between 2016 and
2017.
The Centers for Disease
Control has found a direct
correlation between an
opioid prescription being
written for a lengthy period
of time and the chances
someone will become addicted.
“The whole thrust is like,
pay attention to the patients
so that we can make sure
that that person doesn’t go
down that pathway to addiction,”
said Mark Fontaine
with the Florida Alcohol and
Drug Abuse Association.
A new law taking effect
on July 1st will limit doctors
Orange County, Fla.–
The Orange County Utilities
Solid Waste Division
reminds unincorporated
Orange County customers
that garbage, recycling, large
item and yard waste will be
to prescribing a three day
supply, with the option of
up to seven days if deemed
medically necessary.
Patients with cancer, terminal
illnesses and traumatic
injures are expect from the
restrictions altogether.
The new law also requires
doctors to now check
each patients prescription
history in the Prescription
Drug Monitoring Database
before writing a script,
which may take some getting
used to for medical
professionals.
“There will be a learning
curve for a lot of healthcare
practitioners that were not
checking the prescription
drug monitoring database
prior to the law being implemented,”
said Joe Anne
Hart with the Florida Dental
Association.
The law also expands the
Curbside Collection on July 4
collected on Independence
Day, Wednesday, July 4.
Since Wednesday is a
normal collection day, customers
should set out their
roll carts, large items and
yard waste as usual.
by Jake Stofan , CNS
prescription data base across
state lines to prevent doctor
shopping.
“Like here in Tallahassee
you could run up to Georgia
and get a doctor there,” said
Fontaine. “You could run to
Valdosta and get a doctor
and now we’ll be able to
check that.”
The new law will require
ongoing education for
best practices for physicians
who prescribe opioids.
Getting up to speed
will be important, because
the new law also raises
the criminal penalty for
irresponsibly prescribing
opioids, increasing potential
prison time from five to 15
years.
The new law will also
make more than $52 million
in state and federal funds
available for drug treatment
programs and resources.
As part of the residential
curbside collection program,
the only holidays without
pickup are Thanksgiving
and Christmas Day.
The U-S Supreme Court gave
Florida a partial victory this week
in its decades long battle for water
with the state of Georgia.
In Eastpoint, Florida on the shore
of Apalachicola Bay, fresh water
kept from flowing by the state of
Georgia has devastated the fishing
industry.
Oyster boats remain docked
along the shore.
It once produced 90% of the
oysters consumed in Florida, and
10% of the nation’s supply.
But six years ago the bay collapsed.
A water starved Georgia turned
off the spigot at Lake Lanier, so it could send
the water to Atlanta.
“We need that freshwater to support
the bay. It’s the lifeblood of the bay,” said
Georgia Ackerman with Apalachicola
Riverkeeper. “The nutrients that come down
the river support not only the estuary of
Apalachicola Bay, but fresh water continues
down the west coast of Florida taking care
of a very important commercial fishing
industry.”
With less fresh water flowing, the bay
has become more salty, bringing more
predators.
Shannon Hartsfield represents the Franklin
County Seafood Worker’s Association.
“Our salinity is staying so high in the bay
its ridiculous,” said Hartsfield.
Orlando Advocate | Jun 29 - Jul 5, 2018
Teacher’s Union Asking Lawmakers to
Take Pledge to Increase Teacher Salaries
The state’s largest teacher union is
calling on lawmakers to increase teacher
salaries to meet the national average within
the next four years.
Florida teachers make about $47,200 a
year on average.
“Florida teachers rank 45th in the nation,”
said Joanne McCall, President of the
Florida Education Association.
FEA says since 2009 pay is down by
12.2% when adjusted for inflation.
“We have about 40% of our new teachers
leave within the first five years and it’s
because they can’t make ends meet,” said
McCall.
Florida’s average teacher salary is more
than $12,000 below the national average, often
requiring teachers to work a second job.
In one extreme case, a teacher has resorted
to selling plasma to pay the bills.
“If she donated plasma eight times in a
month she’ll own $300 to supplement her
income, which when you think about that,
that’s pretty sad,” said McCall.
Florida / Georgia Water Wars
by Jake Stofan , CNS
FEA is asking candidates and lawmakers
to sign a pledge, vowing to vote down any
budget that doesn’t include a pay raise for
teachers and educational staff.
The goal is to get Florida to the national
average by 2023.
“The public believes in public schools,”
said McCall. “They believe in public school
teachers and education staff professionals
and we’re going to rally the public and we’re
going to put the pressure on these politicians
to do right. “
The increase is estimated to cost between
$400 and $600 million.
FEA says cutting wasteful spending
along with redirecting money spent on private
school vouchers could cover the cost.
So far, 19 have signed on, including four
Democratic candidates for governor.
State Senator and head of the Florida Association
of District School Superintendents
Bill Montford has yet to sign, but says not
only does he think the goal is attainable, it
should be set even higher.
“So is it possible? Absolutely. It is and
we just got to push it,” said Montford.
“We’ve got to stay on top of it and all of us
who really know about public education, we
have to stand up and be vocal.”
While Democrats are likely to support
the pledge, it will be harder to convince
Republicans.
Teachers hope the prospect of a ‘blue
wave’ this November could shift the balance
of power making the goal more attainable.
by Jake Stofan , CNS
The case now goes back to a special
master, where Florida will have to prove that
it has been hurt more than Georgia will be
hurt in the future it f it has less water.
With the oyster industry already devastated,,
those who work the bay say this
decision is likely too little too late.
“We have very few oysters to reproduce,
and once thats gone, it’s over with,” said
Hartsfield. “There’s no opportunity for jobs
here. There’s no industry here for a job. So,
there’s no hope here.”
Without a flow of freshwater into the bay
and then into the gulf, the entire gulf fishery
could be doomed.
Only a few dozen people oyster in the
bay, down from more than 100 when drought
forced Georgia to begin taking more water
around 2010.