The fear inherent in searching for help for an opioid addiction should not include the additional worry of becoming exploited. But then, “should” is a meaningless word. There are unscrupulous players in the treatment industry eager to turn suffering into money.
On this edition of the Cover2 PPT podcast, Greg welcomes Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg back to the program to discuss the scourge of patient brokering. He offers advice on how to avoid being victimized and describes the work that is being done by the Sober Homes Task Force to protect the community.
Aronberg calls patient brokering “pay to play.” At its base, it is a marketing ploy to lure, bribe, and trade in a scam known as the Florida Shuffle. It’s illegal and it can put lives in danger. The shuffle is no longer isolated just to Florida. It’s a scam that is spreading and Aronberg offers advice on how to recognize it. Where do I go for help? How do I know if the facility I’m considering is legal and responsible? How do I approach my due diligence to find out the answers to these questions?
For those interested in social advocacy to change a system that supports and allows people to profit from such abuse, Aronberg and Greg discuss the work being done to encourage government at the state and national level to do more than just throw money at the problem.
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