By admin on April 12, 2012
Just last month Paul H. Volkman was sentenced in U.S. District Court. He got more than four terms of life imprisonment and what he did was to illegally prescribe and dispense pain pills and it was all considered outside the scope of a legitimate medical practice and all of that resulted in the deaths of four people between 2003 and 2005.
Volkman, a physician, was running his operation in three different locations in Portsmouth, Ohio and one location in Chillicothe. He had patients that would come in for a brief visit and then he gave them a prescription for pain medicine. These patients would pay $125 to $200 cash for each visit. During his trial there was evidence that showed that Volkman prescribed and dispensed millions of dosages of various drugs including diazepam, hydrocodone, Oxycodone, alprazolam and carisoprodol. It is safe to say that he was considered the largest physician dispenser of Drugs in the United States from 2003 to 2005.
Volkman directed his patients to the East main Pharmacy in Columbus where they would fill the prescriptions. It is reported that this pharmacy filled more than 5,500 prescriptions for high doses of Oxycodone and other drugs in a six month period. The pharmacist there pleaded guilty to illegal distribution of Oxycodone and he was sentenced in January of 2012 to 27 months in prison.
The jury convicted Volkman in May of 2011. He will spend many years in prison and he was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million.
“Doctor shopping” goes on in most all of the cities in this country. There are some doctors though that take advantage of the addict and doll out these prescriptions. In Ohio there was Volkman being a drug dealer under the guise of his medical license. The DEA did get him in the end. The task force investigators by DEA Diversion investigators shut him down in 2006. Now he will be in prison.
If you or someone you love needs an Ohio drug rehab resource, call our hotline now at 1-877-340-3602. Our long term drug rehab programs are designed to fully rehabilitate the individual to a life without dependence on drugs.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged drug abuse, drug rehab, long term, long term rehab, ohio, rehabilitation |
By admin on April 9, 2012
Los Angeles is the second largest city in the United States. The city was founded in 1781 and incorporated in 1850. It has a population of 3,694,820 and there are about three people to each home in Los Angeles. When you visit Los Angeles you will be impressed as it has dozens of museums. It is also the home of the Los Angeles Dodgers, The Lakers, The Los Angeles Kings, UCLA, USC, Hollywood and all this with beaches and mountains just a stone’s throw away. Los Angeles has Sunset Strip, Beverly Hills and Malibu. The Academy awards are held annually in Los Angeles and they also host the Los Angeles marathon.
The Drug Enforcement Administration is reporting that Los Angeles is a distribution center for all types of drugs that are going to be shipped out to all parts of the United States. On a regular basis there are increased security measures at Los Angeles International Airport and they do their best to continue to deter drug traffickers from traveling through the airport. Although the north half of California is saturated in Methamphetamine in more rural areas, heroin remains the number one drug of abuse in San Francisco area. Crack cocaine continues to impact Oakland, and methamphetamine continues in and around Sacramento. There is a great deal of Doctor shopping going on.
Healthland.time.com is reporting today that Dr. Hsui-Ying “Lisa” Tseng was arrested only after a very lengthy investigation. In this investigation there was undercover work by drug enforcement agents who went to her as a patient so they could get prescriptions. Shortly after she was charged with overprescribing methadone, Xanax, Oxycodone and other drugs. It seems that there were young men who usually came to Tseng’s storefront office and they told her they had neck pain, back or wrist pain. She would only do a cursory exam and they she would give them more drugs. Tseng and her husband, also a doctor, opened for business in 2005 in the Los Angeles area of Rowland Heights. In 2008 she came under scrutiny by the California medical Board and the US Drug Enforcement Administration after a pharmacy reported problems with her prescriptions. Tseng wrote more than 27,000 prescriptions over a three year period, that is an average of 25 a day. She is being charged with the overdose deaths of three healthy young men. The DEA suspended her license to write prescriptions and her medical license was voluntarily surrendered. Her husband continues to run the clinic. This case highlights the problem of doctors who prescribe drugs for no medical reason. There are a large number of doctors that are doing that now. It is very unusual for the murder case. It is difficult to prove such murder cases because prosecutors must show that there is no legitimate medical purpose for the prescriptions and that the doctor knew there wasn’t. A doctor can’t really control what a patient does with the drugs. The doctor has some deniability.
Tseng stated, “I was really strict with my patients, and I followed the guidelines. If my patient decides to take a months’ supply in a day, then there’s nothing I can do about that.” If she is convicted she could face state prison term of 45 years to life. She is being held on a $3 million bail.
Drug rehabs in Los Angeles, California would do well to prepare for the increasing number of drug addicts seeking treatment in the West.
If you or someone you love needs help with drug abuse, a California drug rehab resource can help. Call a counselor now at 1-877-340-3602.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged california, drug abuse, drug rehab, drug rehabilitations, los angeles |
By admin on April 6, 2012
Just within the last few days there was a task force for the St. Mary Parish and it was made up of Sheriff’s department, Morgan City Police Dept. Franklin police Department, Baldwin Police Department, Berwick police department and Chitimacha Police dept. This was an all out effort to capture those who think that drug distribution is allowed. It is very much illegal in St. Mary parish Louisiana.
On March 2, 2012 Agents of the Narcotics task force were patrolling the Morgan City area when they conducted a traffic stop on Railroad Ave. It seems the vehicle was following too close. While they were investigating this suspect vehicle they got consent to search and they located synthetic cannabinoid (marijuana) and other drug paraphernalia. After this thorough investigation the suspects were arrested and they were issued a summons to appear in court on 6-26-12. A 33 year old and an 18 year old both from Morgan City, la. were arrested for Possession of Synthetic Cannabinoid, Possession of Drug paraphernalia and Abuse of Toxic Vapors.
It seems that when you do these drugs you should not be driving. I know that it does affect your mental capabilities. On that day march 2, 2012 there were three other arrests made that had charges of possession of synthetic marijuana. This product is sold in corner stores. Early in the year of 2011 Governor Jindal made it very illegal to possess or sell these products. Obviously there are still store owners that are participating in this illegal activity all right here in St, Mary parish Louisiana.
If you or someone you love needs a rehab in Louisiana, we can help. Call our hotline now at 1-877-340-3602. As one of the premier long term drug rehabs serving Louisiana, we are capable of salvaging your loved one.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged drug abuse, drug rehab, drug rehabilitation, drugs, Louisiana, morgan city, rehab |
By admin on April 3, 2012
The city of Phoenix has a population of 1,321,045 and there are about three people in each home. Phoenix is the largest city in Arizona. Phoenix is the home to the Phoenix Suns, the University of Phoenix. When you visit Phoenix you will find museums, world-class hotels and resorts. If you like outdoor recreations you will find golfing, hiking, biking and sightseeing in local mountains and deserts. Also when you visit Phoenix you need to know that it has been ranked the hottest city in the United States and one of the hottest in the world. By hot I mean really hot. It is reported by WordTravels.com that the temperature in Phoenix registers at least 100 degrees or more on an average of 90 days out of the year. This happens mostly between June and September.
The DEA reports that the Phoenix and Tucson metro areas are major transshipment points for cocaine distribution from Arizona going all through the United States. Cocaine is shipped from Columbia by air, land and sea to controlled regions in Mexico. After it reaches Mexico this cocaine gets sent to staging areas near the Arizona/Mexican border. There are groups that are situated there that align themselves with the Mexican Cartel and they smuggle the cocaine into Arizona inside commercial trucks, private vehicles, animal caravans and backpackers.
DEA acting Special Agent in Charge Doug Coleman and Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne announced Feb 3rd, 2012 the arrest of 11 of 26 suspected members of a large-scale marijuana and cocaine trafficking organization. There were over 30,000 pounds of marijuana and a small amount of cocaine that was seized from this organization. They were operating in the Naco, Arizona area since the beginning of 2011. The street value of the drugs was estimated to be between $9 and $25 million. Coleman said, “Today’s action deal another blow to the powerful drug trafficking organizations whose tentacles stretch across Mexico border and into the US. DEA and our partners will continue to focus our efforts against these types of large-scale drug trafficking groups who think they can peddle their poisons in our communities without facing justice.”
This criminal organization has been active for more than 15 years doing their smuggling of marijuana and cocaine into the US through this Naco, Bisbee and Tucson, Arizona area. Then this organization would get large amounts of money back into Mexico.
Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said, “I want to thank the dedicated law enforcement personnel from all the state, local and federal agencies that worked cooperatively to make these arrests. Obviously, it is crucial that law enforcement work together to combat the ongoing scourge of poisonous drugs crossing into Arizona. These operations breed violence in both Arizona and Mexico, and my office will continue to work vigorously to bring these drug trafficking organizations to justice.”
Arizona drug rehabs need help in dealing with the drug threat.
The war on Drugs rages on in Arizona. Something can be done about it. If you know someone who needs help getting off drugs get them to an Inpatient treatment center where they can get safe and natural ways to detox and withdraw.
If you or someone you love needs help with drug abuse, a Phoenix, Arizona drug rehab resource can help. Call a counselor now at 1-877-340-3602.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged addiction, arizona, drug abuse, phoenix, treatment |
By admin on March 31, 2012
We have all heard of Miami Beach in Florida. Here is some more information about this city. It has a population of 362,470 and is located in Dade County Florida. It is the fourth largest city in the United States with New York, Los Angeles and Chicago being bigger. It was founded by a woman, Julia Tuttle. It had the nick name of “the magic City” because of its rapid growth. On July 28, 1896 it was incorporated as a city.
Ranked as the “America’s cleanest city” in 2008 by Forbes Magazine because of its good air quality, vast green spaces, clean drinking water, clean streets and city-wide recycling program. Miami is the third richest city in the United States and the 22nd richest city in the world.
Miami has many colleges like the Florida International University, University of Miami, Barry University and Nova Southeastern University. The Miami dolphins, Miami Heat make their home in Miami Florida. Those are all wonderful things in Miami but the residents of Miami also have a drug abuse problem in this beautiful rich city.
Right now there is a bit of a problem with the government in the state of Florida. A federal Judge in Miami is looking at the constitutionality of Gov. Rick Scott’s Policy requiring random drug testing of thousands of government employees. The Judge suggests that this policy “sweeps too broadly”. Judge further said, “I have trouble understanding the circumstances under which the executive order would be valid.”
Jesse Panuccio, deputy general counsel for Scott’s Office was not providing any specific examples but rather talked generally about the harm of drug use in the workplace by state workers. “Drugs are very harmful and they are very dangerous.” It is found that this order violates the Fourth Amendment right of state workers because the testing requirements are “suspicionless” and therefore illegal search and seizure.
This order will affect 80,000 state employees who work for the government. The governor is defending the order as a policy the public wants and the state needs this protection. Scott said, “Our taxpayers expect our state employees to be productive, and this is exactly what the private sector does.”
Florida drug abuse rehabs need to respond to these problems and help where they can.
It remains to be seen what will happen in the State of Florida. I do believe this will catch a few employees who are most likely doing drugs.
If you or someone you love needs the help of a drug rehab serving Miami, Florida, we can help. Call our hotline now at 1-877-340-3602.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged abuse, drug abuse, drugs, florida, miami, rehab, rehabilitation, rehabs |
By admin on March 27, 2012
Newark, New Jersey is located about 5 miles west of Manhattan, 2 miles north of Staten Island and is near the Atlantic Ocean on Newark Bay. It has a population of 273,546 and there are about 3 people to each household.
In the twentieth century Newark saw a major urban decline, just like many of the surrounding cities in New Jersey. The crime rate was sky high and the middle class left the area in the 70s and 80s. During the 90s Newark began to experience a regrowth. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center opened in 1997 at a cost of $180 million. This new development brought over a million visitors to the area and encouraged more growth. After that the city of Newark built a couple of sports stadiums for their minor league teams as well as starting to refurbish the waterfront area. This brought on more growth for the city of Newark. All of these things are good for the area and the city of Newark still has a drug problem. Cocaine is a powerful drug and you can find it in Newark. It is a rich man’s drug and Newark has its share of commuters that work in New York and can well afford this recreation drug. Newark has Heroin in many parts of the city. There are statements from the State of New Jersey Department of Human Services Division of Addiction Services disclose that heroin is used by 18 to 25 years old in Newark. Treatment admissions were up in 2006. Newark users on Meth get a decrease in appetite and may not sleep so well. It is associated with Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, independent chemist, and Traditional Organized Crime. Right now crystal meth use and distribution in Newark appears to be closely associated with members of the Filipino community. Filipino traffickers are importing large amounts of meth from Mexico and the Philippines.
Did you know that New Jersey has the highest concentration of pharmaceutical and chemical firms in the country? So employees at these factories are bringing home the bacon in more ways than one. They are stealing from the makers and distributing the prescription drugs. There are organized script rings that are the source of diverted legitimate pharmaceutical drugs into the city. Morris County has had a rise in arrest for prescription fraud and unlawful possession of prescription medication.
Brian R. Crowell, the Special Agent in Charge of the New Jersey Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration announced that Vincent Hsia, a pharmacist and the former proprietor of Lincoln Pharmacy Network, located in Edison, N.J. was sentenced Feb. 23, 2012 to 25 years in prison for conspiring to distribute Oxycodone and filing false personal and corporate tax returns. He distributed hundreds of thousands of doses of the Schedule II controlled substance for no legitimate medical purpose. Judge Wigenton imposed the sentence today in Newark Federal Court.
The drug scene is in full bloom in Newark, New Jersey. Something can be done about it. If you know someone who is having a problem with drugs get them some help in an inpatient treatment center where they can get safe and natural ways to detox and withdraw.
New Jersey drug abuse rehabs are often filled to capacity trying to help addicts lead a new life.
If you need help with drug addiction, or with finding drug rehabs in Newark, New Jersey, we can help. Call our hotline now at 1-877-340-3602.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged drug abuse, drug rehabs, New Jersey, newark, rehabilitation |
By admin on March 23, 2012
Where is Fayetteville? It is in Washington county, Arkansas right near the Ozark Mountains. It has a population of 58,047. In Fayetteville they reenact the Civil War battle; in the month of April they get all dressed up in the civil way costumes. Fayetteville has the Confederate Cemetery with some 500 confederate soldiers at their final resting place. These soldiers were form Texas, Louisiana, Missouri and Arkansas. It is also the home of the Fayetteville National Cemetery with some 1,600 Union soldiers at their final resting place. Fayetteville has the Clinton House Museum and the University of Arkansas. All of these places are wonderful to visit and the City does everything it can to keep tourist coming and keep their citizens safe. Fayetteville has a dangerous drug abuse problem. There has been a long term problem in Fayetteville especially in the inner city and it comes from crack cocaine and powder cocaine. The DEA has reported that cocaine use has actually been surpassed by methamphetamine use but it is the most concern of law enforcement authorities. What brings this concern up is the violent crime that street gangs are committing. . This cocaine is transported into Arkansas in powder form and it goes to distribution points in Little Rock, Texarkana, El Dorado, Hot Springs, and Dumas.
Mexican Trafficking organizations may have been importing heroin into central Arkansas. It has been a bit hard to figure out anything about what little tar heroin that shows up in Central Arkansas.
MDMA (ecstasy) can be found in Arkansas. It has been reported that sources in California are transporting LSD to the Little Rock and Fayetteville areas so it can be sold on the streets. . Marijuana is brought in from Mexico. It is readily available in Fayetteville and so users are taking advantage of that; as well as all the hydrocodone products such as Vicodin, Oxycontin, morphine and pseudoephedrine is a problem in Fayetteville. There is illegal sale and distribution of these well known prescription drugs by health care professionals like doctors and pharmacies.
4029tv.com reported today March 3rd, 2012 that Authorities in Crawford County said they’ve made the biggest synthetic marijuana bust ever this past week. Sheriff Ron Brown said, “This bust happened after an investigation into the S&P gas station on Highway 71 where investigators were looking into an armed robbery in September but when they were processing the scene they noticed something else that was suspicious. We felt like it was not just a convenience store but that maybe there was some illegal activity in the store.”
What they found was 900 grams of synthetic marijuana and drug paraphernalia in the store and they arrested an attendant that worked there and was the son of the owner. He faces two counts of delivery of a controlled substance, maintaining premises for drug sales, possession with intent to deliver controlled substances.
Sheriff said, “We had received some information from the Alma Police Department about some students possibly purchasing a synthetic-type controlled substance. A lot of the products that were on the shelves that you would see at a convenience store were outdated by not only several months, but even by a year or two.”
Drug abuse in Arkansas is going on strong. Something can be done about this.
If you or someone you love needs help finding a drug rehab serving Fayetteville, Arkansas, we can help. Call our hotline now at 1-877-340-3602.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged addiction, arkansas, drug abuse, fayetteville |
By admin on March 23, 2012
There has been much debate recently over whether or not welfare recipients should be forced to submit to random drug screens in order to continue to receive welfare payments. Many welfare recipients claim it is clearly against their Fourth Amendment right which would protect them against unreasonable search and seizure. In Florida, the State Legislature defended the proposal of random drug screening stating that anyone benefiting from taxpayer dollars should prove they are not misusing those funds on illicit drugs. A reasonable and logical request. Then the tables turned.
The citizens of Florida asked that their Legislature, as a group which also benefits from taxpayer dollars, prove they themselves were not under the influence of any illegal substances and therefore misusing the income they received from Floridians. The legislative body’s original reasonable request mirrored back as an unwelcomed demand.
Member of society will rage against injustice, especially when the end result is extra money out of their pocket. It is easy to sit in judgment of someone who is being irresponsible by buying drugs with hard earned tax payments. It is also reasonable to demand those making decisions as to where tax money goes, be willing to submit to drug screens.
Tax payers have a right to demand action on anyone using illicit drugs, whether a welfare recipient or Senator. Drugs are not the problem. Complacency is the real problem. Sitting by claiming nothing can be done about drug addiction, while tax dollars are wasted, lives are ruined and elected officials turn their guilty heads.
Narconon Louisiana focuses not only on repairing the body from the ravages of drug use, but also on repairing the spirit and the soul of the addict so that they may once again be a responsible and productive member of society. A tough goal, but well worth it and in today’s society, very much needed.
Help stop addiction. One person at a time. Find out what you can do by calling 1-877-340-3602 and ask for your free copy of Ten Things Your Friends May Not Know About Drugs. Working together we can put an end to the destruction caused by drug and alcohol abuse.
Also, if you or someone you love needs the service of a drug rehab, please call our hotline now, or fill out the form in the sidebar of the website.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged drug abuse, drug testing, drugs, editorial, opinion, rehab, stop addiction, treatment, welfare |
By admin on March 21, 2012
According to a study published in The Journal of Pain, the peer-review journal of the American Pain Society, individuals who take opioid analgesics but are not dependent or addicted, often have cravings to take more medication. They concluded there is no clear evidence that cravings are a sign of drug addiction, as individuals have reported drug cravings even though they are not addicted.
Segan’s Medical Dictionary defines a craving as “a strong desire to consume a particular substance—e.g., of abuse (cocaine)—or food (chocolate); craving is a major factor in relapse and/or continued use after withdrawal from a substance of abuse and is both imprecisely defined and difficult to measure.”
The Life Cycle and Mechanics of Addiction published by Narconon Louisiana, concurs and states that cravings for a drug are the first barrier to recovery. The first challenge for any addict wishing to kick his addiction is overcoming the mental and physical cravings for drugs or alcohol. An addict who is craving drugs may feel like life itself is dependent on getting and taking their preferred drug.
Additionally, the body stores drug toxin which accumulate after repeated drug use. These toxins will stress many of the body’s systems, resulting in fatigue, aches, pains and unclear thinking. The addicted person has learned to medicate their mental or physical problems with drugs. Therefore, they will continue to use drugs as a solution whenever they feel poorly and the continued use of drugs results in the addict feeling poorly; a vicious repeating cycle.
Whether studies are done by individuals who have experienced addiction as well as the pain of withdrawal from drugs or by the American Pain Society, the facts remain the same. Those who start down the path of addiction and continue unchecked will eventually be faced with so many unpleasant circumstances that each sober moment is filled with despair and misery, continuing the addict’s decline.
To arrest this decline and give an addict help in reversing their dwindling spiral, call Narconon Louisiana New Life Retreat for information on what you can do for yourself or a loved one. Substance abuse counselors are available to take your call and provide you with information to help you in your situation, whatever that may be.
Call 1-877-340-3602 for help.
Posted in Riverbend | Tagged addiction, cravings, help, rehab, rehabilitation, solutions, treatment |
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