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State Mum on Execution Drugs

Florida officials are keeping mum on their role in the growing controversy over execution drugs, The Tampa Tribune reports.

The Department of Corrections releases detailed documents about its lethal injection protocol, but will not provide details of the sources or supply it has for the drugs, such as the sedative midazolam hydrochloride, according to The Tribune.

This is only part of the ongoing national shortage of drugs that can be used for executions. States including Missouri and Florida are finding it increasingly difficult to find pharmacies able to provide drugs such as pentobarbital.

The European Union, which is vehemently against the death penalty, is using its leverage to keep the drugs away from states wanting to use it for executions, NPR reported. A transcript of that story is here.

Originally founded in December 2006 as an independent grassroots publication dedicated to coverage of health issues in Florida, Health News Florida was acquired by WUSF Public Media in September 2012.