Last week a woman from Marion County was charged with DUI after a test revealed her blood alcohol level to be 0.466 – more than five times the legal limit in Florida. An expert said Leianne Francine Lazurus’s blood alcohol level “was in the lethal range.”
Lazurus, 33, was hospitalized until physicians could stabilize her and her blood alcohol level dropped to “just” .279. Lazurus was then put in jail.
Archive for February, 2012
Marion County Woman’s Blood Alcohol Level Deemed Lethal
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012Sleeping Pills Can Kill
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012New research learns that people taking certain prescription sleeping pills are four times more likely to die than people who do not. The drugs are also connected with a significantly increased risk of cancer among people taking high dosages of sleeping pills.
The study included Ambien, Restoril, Sonata and Lunesta. People who took less than 18 pills each year were more than 3.5 times more likely to die than people who did not taking any sleeping pills.
“The sense has been with newer medications that shorter-acting drugs are safer, and the major take-home message from our study is these drugs are not safer,” said Dr. Robert Langer. “The medications may have a role in temporary use of insomnia, but need to be used sparingly. People need to go in with their eyes wide open that the risks are there.”
Treatment Provider Sues Delray Beach
Tuesday, February 28th, 2012A drug and alcohol addiction treatment provider is suing Delray Beach for allegedly discriminating against people with disabilities. This comes after the facility was denied permission to house clients in a sober house.
The Caron Foundation bought a $3 million dollar house on Seaspray Avenue in January as a sober house residence. The Caron Foundation filed the lawsuit last Friday in U.S. District Court in West Palm Beach. The lawsuit alleges Delray Beach violated the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Fair Housing Act.
“The federal law has been clear since 1988 that people who are in recovery and those who provide treatment services to them are a protected class,” said Jim Green, attorney for the Caron Foundation. “There has been no real attempt to understand people with substance abuse or alcohol abuse. There just has been a hysterical reaction based on stereotypes and prejudice.”
Task Force Bill Passed In Florida House
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012A bill that creates a task force for babies born in Florida with an addiction to opioids has passed in the Florida House. HB 227 passed with an unanimous vote. The vote now goes to the Senate for passage.
Florida Attorney General Bondi sees the bill’s passage as the first step toward dealing with a burgeoning problem directly associated with the prescription drug abuse epidemic in the state. The task force would include Bondi and other state officials. The goal of the task force would be to recommend solutions focusing on prevention and education. Bondi believes this is a public health issue, rather than one involving law enforcement. Many pregnant women struggling with an addiction to prescription pain pills are unaware that they could give birth to a baby addicted to pain pills.
St. Lucie County Sheriff Notes Increase In Crack Cocaine
Tuesday, February 21st, 2012St. Lucie County Sheriff Ken Mascara said 40 people have been arrested and several more targeted as part of a massive undercover drug operation focused mostly on crack cocaine.
Operation Crack Down resulted in 40 arrests and search warrants issued for 13 more people. Investigators have noted an increase in street-level narcotic sales, mostly crack cocaine, since the end of last year.
“Since the pill epidemic has slowed down somewhat with new legislation, crack cocaine is coming back,” said Sheriff Mascara.
Spanish Teens Have Low Rates Of Substance Use
Monday, February 20th, 2012A new study from the University of Seville in Spain finds that most young people in Spain do not fit the risk profile of substance use. About 60 percent of Spanish youths between the ages of 13 and 18 report they do not take drugs and rarely drink alcohol. Less than 10 percent of Spanish youths admit to having taken some form of an illegal drug.
“Although it is important that society, the media, the experts involved and young people themselves change the stereotype of adolescents taking drugs, the data from our study should not be seen as an excuse not to prevent substance use,” said lead researcher Pilar Ramos, a professor at the University of Seville.
Oxycontin Changing Formulation In Canada
Sunday, February 19th, 2012The prescription drug epidemic has crossed the border to the Great White North – Canada. So much so, that the company that makes Oxycontin will stop manufacturing the drug in Canada at the end of February. Another company, Purdue Pharma Canada will replace Oxycontin with a new drug called OxyNEO, which is formulated to make abuse more difficult.
There is growing concern, however, that people who are already struggling with an addiction to Oxycontin, will find themselves struggling even more because their bodies cannot adjust to the new formulation of the drug. One Canadian addiction specialist believes that without comprehensive drug addiction treatment, a public health crisis in Canada is imminent.
Federal Judge Orders DEA To Explain Florida Decision
Saturday, February 18th, 2012A federal judge on Monday ordered the Drug Enforcement Administration to explain its rationale for trying to shut down a pharmaceutical distribution center in Florida.
U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton said that he will give the Drug Enforcement Administration until the end of next week to submit its explanation for issuing an order against the Cardinal Health Inc. distribution center in Lakeland.
Earlier this month, the Drug Enforcement Administration suspended the sale of controlled substances by two CVS pharmacies in the Orlando area and Cardinal Health supplied the drugs to those stores. The Drug Enforcement Administration said that the two pharmacies were dispensing a huge amount of oxycodone, far exceeding the customary amount. It was the first time stores in a national pharmacy chain were the target, and many experts applauded the Drug Enforcement Administration’s move to combat prescription drug abuse in Florida.
Database Helping Fight Prescription Fraud
Friday, February 17th, 2012Florida’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program is already making a difference, helping pharmacists and law enforcement officers continue the fight against prescription drug abuse. As a result, prescription fraud is being addressed on many levels. The database is making its definitive mark in a state that has long been saddled with an unfortunate reputation as the pill mill capital of the United States.
“For a long time, Florida was behind the curve as far as drug monitoring goes. We pretty much supply most of the United States,” said Sgt. Karl Albenga of the Lee County Sheriff’s Office.
The Lee County Sheriff’s Office is currently overwhelmed with cases of prescription fraud. Each of the six members of its pharmaceutical investigations task force are currently working on a staggering 40 cases each. Each prescription fraud case takes between two and three months to close because of the time needed to subpoena medical records. Despite this, investigators across Florida are determined to continue the fight against prescription drug abuse and prescription fraud.
Students Arrested On Texas College Campus
Thursday, February 16th, 2012A drug bust on and around the campus of Texas Christian University in Fort Worth has resulted in the arrest of 17 students.
University officials said the students arrested “engaged in hand-to-hand delivery” of drugs with undercover narcotics officers both on and off campus. The investigation began six months ago after tips were received from students and parents.
The students arrested were selling marijuana, cocaine, the club drug “molly”, acid and prescription drugs including Xanax and hydrocodone.