ORLANDO, Fla. —While patients with legitimate prescriptions can’t get their pain medicine, the blame game between Gov. Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Drug Enforcement Administration continues.

Gov. Rick Scott blames federal agency for Fla. prescription issues

WESH 2’s Matt Grant has traveled more than a thousand miles, heard from hundreds of viewers and interviewed more than a half-dozen patients, who said they can’t get legitimate pain prescriptions filled.

While Scott and Bondi blame the DEA, the DEA points the finger at pharmacists.

Pharmacists told WESH 2 they fear the DEA. To sort through the circle of confusion, WESH 2’s Matt Grant went to the University of Florida.

“It’s a problem that needs answers and needs answers now,” UF School of Pharmacy Professor Paul Doering said.

Doering is also the co-director of the statewide drug information and pharmacy resource center.

Previous stories:DEA responds after patients denied prescription pain meds | Pharmacies denying legitimate prescriptions

A 2009 study by Florida Law Enforcement found seven people were dying a day from prescription drug abuse. Some have argued the crackdown has made it harder for legitimate patients to get their medication.

“One could argue in the process the pendulum has swung completely in the opposite direction,” Doering said.

Doering echoes what pharmacists have said: There is a fear of getting into trouble with the DEA.

“Pharmacists have just gotten, I don’t want to call it paranoid, they’ve gotten very restrictive,” Doering said.

In 2012, Walgreens paid an $80 million DEA fine over charges it failed to properly control the sale of narcotic painkillers. That same year two Sanford CVS locations were raided.

Video – DEA responds: Why can’t patients get pain medication?

Doering said there is a corporate directive to tighten what goes out.

“They’ve pretty much made a new set of rules that says, ‘We don’t want to pay huge fines, we don’t want to lose our license, so we’re going to be extra strict,'” Doering said. “I would say 100 percent they’re saying it’s not worth the risk.”

The DEA said it works with pharmacists on identifying red flags to stop fraudulent prescriptions from being filled. But Doering said the rules aren’t always clear.

“It’s kind of like playing a game of football without having a clear rule book. But if you do something, you’re going to get a yellow flag,” Doering said.

List: 50 most prescribed drugs in the U.S.

50 most prescribed drugs in the U.S.

 

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lee-county-fl.gov

IMS Health reports the 50 most prescribed drugs in the U.S. during a period between July 2013 and June 2014. View the slideshow to see which drugs made the list.