We are struggling as a nation to manage the devastating impact of drug diversion, abuse, addiction, and overdose deaths. According to the CDC, we average about 46 prescription opioid-related overdose deaths per day.

Florida has taken a unique approach to deal with the crisis: sue the pharmacy. According to an ABC News report, "The state of Florida has sued the two largest pharmacy chains in the country over the sale of opioids — an epidemic that has killed thousands in the state in just the past few years."

As a pharmacist I want nothing more than to see us reduce the nonmedical use of opioids and to get help to those patients who find themselves locked into a pattern of addiction and abuse. My heart goes out to the families and friends who have lost loved ones in this epidemic.

Anyone reading this article who thinks I don’t care about our addiction problem doesn’t know me, or has missed my point.

That being said, I respectfully believe that suing pharmacies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers, is an inappropriate and unhelpful response. All such efforts will only result in reduced access to these critical medications for the patients who truly need them in order to live.

I’m not a lawyer. But the following are five reasons why it seems inappropriate to me to take legal action against Walgreens and CVS pharmacies in this case. I have never personally worked for either company. I simply view this method as inconsistent, ineffective and possibly hypocritical.

First, why just CVS and Walgreens? Doesn’t every pharmacy in the state of Florida dispense these medications? Why is it they are being named in the lawsuit, and not any of the smaller pharmacy chains or independents?

Just suing these big names gives the impression (right or wrong) that this is simply a money thing. They are the biggest (Walgreens has over 800 stores in Florida, and CVS about 750) pharmacy chains for sure. But if what they did was wrong, it should be wrong for everyone, not just the biggest offenders.

Second, if CVS and Walgreens were at fault, then what about the doctors who wrote the prescriptions? I always find it interesting that when it comes to opioid lawsuits, everyone is quick to sue the manufacturer, distributor or pharmacy.

But the fact is that this lawsuit is about legally prescribed pain medications. As such, each and every tablet was authorized by a physician. But they are strangely ignored.

Could it be there just isn’t enough money to gain from suing individual doctors? I don’t think the physicians should necessarily be sued, but I’m pointing out an inconsistency.

Third, if these drugs are inherently so dangerous and terrible, then why not ban them for sale in Florida? We all know that will never happen.

Virtually all of us have either used them ourselves, or have a friend or family member who has desperately needed these medications to help manage post-surgical pain, chronic pain or cancer pain. Studies have shown that less than 1 percent of patients exposed to prescription opioids end up with an abuse disorder that can be traced back to the prescription.

Fourth, the state and DEA knew about each and every tablet dispensed. Nothing was done in secret. Unlike tobacco or alcohol, every single tablet of a Schedule 2 substance is reported to the state via the PMP and through very rigorous ordering channels. Very few businesses operate the distribution of their product with such transparency and detailed records as the prescribing of opioids involves.

Fifth, opioid-related deaths are rarely the result of simply overdosing on a prescribed product alone. Every single death from an overdose is one too many. As healthcare providers, we don’t want to see any of our patients go down a path of addiction and abuse.

Blaming the opioid may be convenient, but not accurate. The vast majority of these deaths involve alcohol, combining opioids with other sedatives like benzodiazepines, and very frequently the use of illicit drugs like illegally obtained fentanyl, heroin or cocaine.

The big problem, in my opinion, with this type of lawsuit is that it distracts us from focusing on the really important matter: the patients who need our help. There are many addicted patients who want to escape the situation they are in. We can help them, if only we would stop blaming and start working.