Real patients in real pain are being denied their prescriptions. It’s a problem WESH 2 first told you about last month, and we’re asking the Drug Enforcement Administration why.

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Real patients in real pain are being denied their prescriptions. It’s a problem WESH 2 first told you about last month, and we’re asking the Drug Enforcement Administration why.Previous stories: Pharmacies denying legitimate prescriptions | Cancer patients denied prescription drugs at the pharmacyWESH 2's hidden cameras captured exactly what is happening to a lot of local patients as they try to fill legitimate prescriptions."They make me feel guilty to take my prescriptions," said Teri Green, who suffers from severe osteoporosis.Watch this reportThree patients took our spy camera to nine pharmacies, but they all received one answer"Right off the bat, they make me feel like I'm a street drug addict," said Mark White, who suffers from cervical spinal stenosis.One local pharmacist told WESH 2 the DEA instructed him not to fill certain drug combinations."The DEA is saying, 'No, we don't want you filling this,' so who am I to go against the DEA?" said pharmacist Dele Obaitan.Full interview: Bondi responds to patients who can't get prescriptionsIn 2010, Attorney General Pam Bondi helped pass legislation banning doctors from dispensing narcotic medications out of their office. It was part of a statewide crackdown on rampant abuse.While prescription drug deaths have dropped, Bondi now says the crackdown may have gone too far."I can't control what DEA, what they're doing with the number of drugs released. Everyone means well, but sometimes the pendulum swings too far the other way," she said.Video - DEA responds: Why can't patients get pain medication?But the DEA disagrees."I don't think the pendulum has swung," said Jeff Walsh, assistant special agent in charge of Central Florida.For the first time since our reporting, the DEA is breaking its silence."It's tragic, but it's an issue between the patient and the pharmacist, not the DEA," said Walsh.Walsh said pharmacists are being dishonest when they blame the DEA.Video - DEA responds: Who is to blame for prescription issues?"The current climate out there now, there is an over-abundance of caution," said Walsh."But why is this happening? Are pharmacists afraid of DEA?" asked WESH 2's Matt Grant."Well, they shouldn't be. I mean DEA has never exercised any punitive actions against a pharmacy or pharmacist unless their actions have been egregious and habitual," said Walsh.Walsh said the DEA does not set quotas on the number of pills pharmacists can dispense. Agents do offer advice on spotting red flags, and Walsh said pharmacists should be filling legitimate prescriptions.Video - DEA responds: What should patients do who can't get prescriptions?"The question would be for those pharmacists that are declining it, why? You're the pharmacist. You went to school. You have the training and experience. If it's legitimate, and you can articulate that, by all means fill it," he said.But patients are facing a circle of confusion.The attorney general is blaming pharmacists and the DEA. The DEA is pointing the finger at the pharmacists, who say they’re scared of the DEA.The blame game isn't helping patients feel better.The DEA also said pharmacists are the last line of defense, and stress that they should look at the totality of a case and not blindly fill prescriptions.The courts have said a pharmacist's duty extends beyond simply following the doctor's direction.