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Florida's Drug Database Goes Into Effect This Thursday

MIAMI (CBS4) – A long-debated prescription drug database aimed at cracking down on so-called 'pill mills' in the state will go into effect this Thursday.

Florida pharmacies and other providers will be required to submit information within seven days of dispensing the targeted drugs like OxyContin and Xanax.

Ultimately, the database will be used to help flag potential drug abusers.

Also, the Florida Department of Health announced this week that a "public health emergency" has been lifted. Surgeon General Frank Farmer imposed the emergency July 1, after it was included in a bill that lawmakers passed this spring to try to crack down on unscrupulous pill mills.

The bill called for using the public health emergency to gather and seize dangerous controlled substances from doctors' offices. The bill bans most doctors from dispensing those drugs.

(TM and © Copyright 2011 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.)

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