A recent data breach at Florida’s controlled substance prescription database has called into question the security of such statewide services, which are meant to cut down on prescription drug abuse.
 
As reported by the South Florida Sun Sentinel, the names, addresses and prescription information for some 3,300 Florida residents were leaked to prosecutors and defense attorneys involved in six prescription drug fraud cases, even though at least some of that data had no bearing on the investigations.
 
The breach was reported by the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, which is demanding answers.
 
"We want to know how this monumental breach of security and confidentiality occurred, and how a state-mandated database could apparently be so misused that it led to the widespread distribution of intimate medical information unconnected to any ongoing investigation," ACLU of Florida Associate Legal Director Maria Kayanan said in a statement quoted by the Associated Press.
 
The leak was discovered after one of the recipients of the data recognized the name of one of the patients included in the leaked data. 
 
The breach is the latest blow against the troubled Electronic Florida Online Reporting of Controlled Substances Evaluation, which survived recent efforts by Gov. Rick Scott to kill it.
 
Deaths in Florida due to Oxycodone have dropped 17% and doctor-shopping cases have also fallen by more than half since the database began tracking patients two years ago, according to the state’s department of health.
 
However, a recent federal report showed that only one third of pharmacists and only 10% of doctors in the state are actually using the database.