Florida Legislature Takes Ground-Breaking Steps Towards Solving the Opioid Crisis in Florida!

Tallahassee, FL - In an effort to combat the opioid epidemic, which just seems to be getting worse, the Florida legislature took proactive steps in fighting this deadly problem during the 2019 legislative session.

The House and Senate both signed off on a bill (HB451) requiring the Florida Department of Health (FS456) to require its licensees, namely any doctor prescribing an opioid, to inform the patient of the alternatives that are available. The new requirement specifically names acupuncture, chiropractic, and massage. All of which are licensed and regulated by the State Legislature and the Department of Health.

This is a huge step for the general public’s education about legitimate alternative and natural therapies that are licensed and regulated in Florida.

The Department of Health has also been directed to formulate an informational packet so the patient can make an informed decision regarding the alternatives to an opioid prescription.

In the past, any type of alternative treatment was viewed as risky. Decades later we now know that many of these methods are safe, effective, cost efficient and have no deadly side-effects.