Catoosa County moves to put moratorium on 'pill mill' pain management clinics

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Arkansas-Georgia Live Blog

The Catoosa County Commission this morning took what county officials described as the "proactive" step of putting a moratorium so-called "pill mill" pain management clinics.

Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance that puts a six-month hold on the businesses, which prescribe and then fill prescriptions for potentially addictive pain-killers such as oxycodone.

Currently, there are no such clinics in unincorporated Catoosa County.

But officials fear pill mills could come, because they're being forced out of Florida and Catoosa County is conveniently located near Interstate 75.

"We're doing what we can to protect our youth ... and the county, as well," commission Chairman Keith Greene said.