Florida's pill mill problem has gotten so bad prescription drug overdose is now the leading cause of death in the state.

WFTV’s Daralene Jones found out anyone can open a pharmacy, as long as they have a licensed pharmacist on staff. So, the Drug Enforcement Administration came up with a plan to better monitor which pharmacies are doling out the pills.

Jimmy League was a father to two children, but his pain pill addiction killed him, and destroyed his marriage. Jimmy’s father, Alan League, tried to help.

“Less than five minutes from the time he saw the doctor he came out with three prescriptions,” league said.

The DEA says others who are addicted to pain pills get pills through pharmacies that don't follow the rules, by selling pills for cash in bulk, sometimes without a prescription.

Agents busted employees of one Orange County pharmacy in October for allegedly trafficking addictive drugs like oxycodone.  

Agents say Florida's pill mills feed trafficking rings in 37 states.

Officials say drug pushers can turn around and resell oxycodone pills for $80 each.

In 2009, there were only nine applications for new pharmacies, in 2011 there were 35. The applications started coming in after the state blocked doctors from handing out the deadly narcotics. So the DEA launched a new effort that requires the pharmacy applicants and their employees to go through interviews and background checks, to try to ensure they plan to run a legitimate business.

 “The abuse of these pharmaceuticals, diverted illegally, is greater than cocaine, marijuana and meth combined,” said DEA special agent Jeff Walsh.

Walsh hopes his agency’s efforts will help solve the problem.

The Orange-Osceola Medical Examiner says prescription drug overdose is now the leading cause of accidental death, ahead of car crashes, with 147 deaths last year.

Emergency room doctor Josef Thundyill sees victims all the time.

”They're not able to breathe on their own, or what we call protect their airways, so they may experience vomiting,” said Thundyill.

Jimmy League's children are now growing up without a father. And his father doesn’t want anyone else to go through what they did.

”It was the worst day of my life,” said League

Of the 35 applications sent to the DEA in 2011, 31 were approved. Agents say they do surprise visits, monitor drug orders, to make sure everything stays legitimate.