Orlando Hosts National Prescription Drug Abuse Conference

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on July 2, 2012

A national conference on the growing problem of prescription drug abuse was held recently here in Orlando and included law enforcement officials, legislators, medical professionals and others to shed light on what is now described as an epidemic of abuse. Florida has gained a reputation in recent years as an easy place to score prescription drugs, especially painkillers such as Oxycontin, Vicodin and others. Orlando personal injury lawyer James O. Cunningham welcomed the increased attention on prescription drug abuse, as he has represented countless people in recent years that have been injured by people under the influence of prescription pharmaceuticals. Florida’s reputation as a “pill mill” where people from all over the country can easily obtain drugs has brought much-needed attention to our state’s problems.

“These efforts to shut down pill mills are an important part of the fight against pharmaceutical negligence,” said one Florida personal injury attorney.

“It is essential that we fight pill mills in every way possible,” he said. “When a doctor prescribes a drug that causes catastrophic injury or death, that doctor may be liable for pharmaceutical negligence. It is important for the injured parties or their families to contact an attorney who can hold these unethical doctors accountable for the damages they caused.”

The conference drew more than 700 people from at least 45 states as well as U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina Benjamin, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, Dr. Illeana Arias, Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and other high-profile public health officials. The conference was organized by Operation UNITE (Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment and Education, Inc.), an organization founded by Kentucky Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers after he read about the scope of prescription drug abuse in his state. He cited Florida pill mills as a contributing factor in prescription drug abuse in his state as well as other states in the region and urged Florida lawmakers, medical organizations, law enforcement officials and others to take stronger action to prevent easy access to these drugs.

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.