Closing Florida's Office of Drug Control May Increase Drug Crime Cases

February 18, 2011

The Florida Office of Drug Control has worked together with the Office of Planning and Budget within the state's executive branch over the past decade to foster strategies to limit the ill effects of substance abuse statewide. Part of that advocacy has been coming up with law enforcement strategies to decrease illicit drug supplies throughout the state. But its mission statement has long promoted two equally important alternatives: prevention and treatment.

One of the first acts of Florida's new governor, Rick Scott, was to eliminate the Office of Drug Control, which drew protests from a range of anti-drug advocates, including the Drug Free America Foundation. "Without this office, Florida will most assuredly face the prospect of increased substance abuse, treatment costs, medical costs, crime and incarceration," the foundation's Executive Director Calvina Fay said in a press release.

While Gov. Scott's decision to close the office was fiscally motivated, critics point out that its half-million-dollar annual budget was extremely small in comparison to the problem it fought against -- some advocates estimate the annual costs of drug and alcohol abuse in Florida to exceed $45 billion. By fostering drug prevention programs and channeling federal funds to local communities, the Office of Drug Control provided documentable benefits, not the least of which was reducing activity that led to charges of drug possession, drug trafficking and cultivation of marijuana or manufacture of methamphetamines.

When Addiction Leads to Drug Charges, a Criminal Defense Attorney Can Suggest Solutions

An increased incidence of drug crime prosecutions of people who would benefit from substance abuse treatment would be an unwelcome result for Florida communities, from Miami-Dade to the Panhandle. But in the event that a person challenged with drug addiction faces criminal prosecution, securing dedicated advocacy from an experienced drug crimes defense attorney is an important, early step.

Early intervention in any criminal matter can improve the future prospects of someone charged with a controlled substance crime. Chemical dependency is one factor among many that can influence everything from the level of charges filed to the consequences of a conviction. The sooner a person seeks help and secures professional advice from substance abuse counselors and a drug crimes defense lawyer, the better the prospects for treatment and recovery rather than indictment, conviction and incarceration.

Article provided by Rothman & Associates, P.A.
Visit us at www.tandrlaw.com