BY CHRISTOPHER DALE —

REVOLVING DOOR OF DEATH –

Jan. 25, 2022 –  “Rehab facilities have a financial incentive to keep patients in rehab for as long as possible,” said Alan Johnson, Chief Assistant State Attorney for West Palm Beach. “And then, once their insurance runs out, healthcare insurance rules now incentivize return visits.”

One county’s opioid statistics reflect this battleground shift. In Palm Beach Country, which a decade ago had more pain clinics than McDonalds, 86% of the 622 overdose deaths in 2020 were fentanyl-related. It’s no longer pharma-manufactured oral dose opioids killing people, but rather street drugs laced with the ultra-lethal fentanyl.

Ever the drug addiction trendsetter, Florida finds itself at a killer confluence. First, it has by far the most substance abuse providers per capita in the country. Second, it has a fentanyl epidemic that is picking off unknowing substance abusers.

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