Opioid Prescribing Alternatives Coming to Florida

BRADENTON, Fla., April 12, 2019 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The misuse of Opioid drugs continues to be a public crisis in Florida with death rates still climbing. Fortunately, legislators in 2019 have proposed new bills designed to help medical professionals and the public learn more about opioid prescribing alternatives including acupuncture, therapeutic massage and other non-drug therapies.

The Florida State Oriental Medical Association (FSOMA) is a founding partner of the Conservative Care Coalition, which has been working with legislators to find creative options for reducing Florida's overdose and addiction challenges.

FSOMA supports House Bill 451 sponsored by Representative Sen Scott Plakon (R-District 29) and Senate Bill 630 sponsored Senator Keith Perry (R-District 8). These bills include provisions requiring: 1. the Department of Health to make-public information about the benefits of non-opioid alternatives to patients, and 2. the prescriber to talk to patients about the benefits of non-opioids prior to prescribing.

Acupuncture is a well-recognized and proven treatment option for pain. Numerous clinical studies support that acupuncture treatments provide equal or greater pain relief outcomes when compared to prescribed opioids.

FSOMA
The Florida State Oriental Medical Association is a non-profit professional association organization that represents Florida for Licensed Acupuncturists.

The Conservative Care Coalition is made up of FSOMA, The Florida Acupuncture Association, The Florida Chiropractic Association, Florida Occupational Therapy Association and the Florida Massage Therapy Association

Links to Pending Bills
http://m.flsenate.gov/Bill/00451
http://m.flsenate.gov/Bill/630/2019

Acupuncture Research Links
https://www.aafp.org/news/health-of-the-public/20180521acupuncture.html
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5676441/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/27475042/

SOURCE Florida State Oriental Medical Association