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substances; the increased drug trafficking in controlled substances originating from such <br />clinics; and other impacts harmful to the public health, safety and welfare; and <br />WHEREAS, newspapers and other media reports have described the "pipeline" that is <br />used by drug traffickers purchasing controlled substances from pain management clinics and <br />pharmacies in Florida and illegally selling the controlled substances to abusers in other <br />states; and <br />WHEREAS, law enforcement officials in Indian River County, including the Indian <br />River County Sheriff and municipal police officials, have reported that, based on the proximity <br />of Indian River County to 1-95, and considering the expansion of pain management clinics <br />northward toward Indian River County from counties located to the south, there will be a <br />proliferation of pain management clinics in Indian River County, and such clinics will have a <br />direct and immediate impact which is harmful to the public health, safety and welfare of the <br />residents of Indian River County if appropriate, protective measures are not taken by the <br />Board of County Commissioners. Law enforcement officials have also reported a significant <br />increase in deaths in Indian River County caused by lethal dosages of controlled substances; <br />and <br />WHEREAS, the Indian River County Tax Collector and various municipal officials have <br />received numerous telephone calls inquiring whether Indian River County or its municipalities <br />have ordinances regulating pain management clinics, suggesting that Indian River County <br />has already become a target for such clinics; and <br />WHEREAS, many residents of Indian River County have experienced personal <br />tragedies within their own families as a result of abuse of controlled substances; and <br />WHEREAS, many counties and municipalities in Florida have adopted moratoriums or <br />permanent ordinances regulating the operation of pain management clinics or pharmacies <br />which prescribe or dispense excessive amounts of controlled substances; and <br />WHEREAS, the Board adopted a moratorium on the issuance of business tax receipts <br />for pain management clinics in Ordinance 2010-16, which moratorium is scheduled to expire <br />on June 8, 2011; and <br />WHEREAS, as directed by the Board in Ordinance 2010-16, staff has worked <br />diligently with representatives of the Indian River County Sheriffs Office, representatives of <br />municipal police forces, representatives of most of the municipalities located within the <br />County, and with other concerned organizations and residents to develop measures to <br />prevent the proliferation of pain management clinics and pharmacies which prescribe and <br />dispense excessive amounts of controlled substances; and <br />2 <br />