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Politics & Government

Milton Bans Pain Management Clinics To Avoid Violence

The City Council approved a moratorium until April 2012, unless legislation is enacted before then to control the clinics.

Milton City Council approved a one-year moratorium on issuing business licenses to new pain management clinics because of a link its city attorney said exists between them and increased violence.

The City Council approved the one-year ban at its meeting on May 2 after hearing from City Attorney Ken Jarrard.

“There is compelling evidence that when you have these bonafied pain clinics or “pill mills” what you find are associated elements of increased violence,” Jarrard said.

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The moratorium will apply to privately-owned pain management clinics that dispense any type of pain management services or controlled substances and will not affect licensed pharmacies.

According to the wording of the measure, “Said moratorium shall run through April 2012 with the intention of providing an opportunity for the State of Georgia to address relevant legislation that would impact the City's ability to regulate pain management clinics and provide the City of Milton an opportunity to develop ordinances and/or regulations that address the secondary effects of pain management clinics on individuals and the community.”

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Registered pharmacist Fred Edwards supports the moratorium.

“Pain clinics continue to support the use of dangerous drugs to drug addicts, individual prescription drug users as well as some teenagers who have now found a way to continue their drug habits,” said Edwards.

He asked the mayor and City Council to support the vote on the moratorium until clearly defined regulations can be established regarding pain management clinics.

Apparently there are no existing pain management clinics  that would be affected by this action, making the moratorium is a preventative measure that would automatically expire once more specific measures are adopted regarding pain management clinics.

According to the Georgia Drug and Narcotics Agency, deaths due to prescription drug overdoses have surpassed those of all other illicit drugs.

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