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Leslie Carter’s Death An Overdose According To Police Report

admin — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:58:04 +0000

According to a newly released police report, Leslie Carter‘s death was due to a drug overdose and she was under the influence of several drugs before her death. The report said three drugs were found near Carter – Olanzapine, used to treat the symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder; Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle relaxant; and Alprazolam (Xanax) used to treat anxiety or panic disorders.
　
Carter’s stepmother, Ginger Carter, said Leslie had “a long history of mental illness and was on medication for her depression.”
　
The official cause of death will be determined after the Chautauqua County, New York coroner’s office gets the results of toxicology reports in four to six weeks. Carter’s family will ultimately decide whether or not to release the cause of Leslie Carter’s death.

Lake County Grow House Discovered

admin — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:48:07 +0000

Two people were arrested this week in Lake County after police discovered an “elaborate” marijuana growing operation. During a search, police found about 50 marijuana plants, about $4,000 dollars worth of steroids, about three pounds of processed marijuana and Xanax tablets. The police also seized a .45 caliber handgun and about $5,000 in cash.

Kyle A. Wilson, 30, and Lydia Dale Schmidt, 22, face numerous charges including child abuse, due to the fact that there were two children in the home at the time of the arrests.

Working Overtime Connected To Depression

admin — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 14:01:05 +0000

A new study from Britain finds that working long hours seems to substantially increase a person’s risk of developing depression.
　
The study learned that workers who averaged 11 hours of work a day were about two and half time more likely to develop depression than their colleagues who only worked seven or eight hours a day. The connection continued even after the researchers accounted for specific factors like job strain, the level　of support in the workplace, alcohol use, smoking and chronic physical diseases.
　
Depression is the leading mental health disorder in the United States.

Demi Moore May Have Smoked K2 Spice

admin — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 14:01:04 +0000

Reports are surfacing that actress Demi Moore‘s recent hospitalization may have been caused by her smoking K2 Spice, a cheap herbal incense similar to marijuana. K2 Spice is illegal thanks to a special order issued by the Drug Enforcement Administration last year. Experts are deciding whether or not K2 Spice should be made illegal permanently.
　
Last Monday, a friend of Moore’s called 911 and said she was unconscious, according to press reports.
　
“She smoked something – it’s not marijuana, but it’s similar to incense, and she seems to be having convulsions of some sort,” the friend told a 911 operator. After much confusion, an ambulance was dispatched to Moore’s home and she was transported to the hospital. Moore and her husband, actor Ashton Kutcher, are going through a divorce.

Drugged Driving An Increasing Problem

admin — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 14:27:07 +0000

In Lower Hudson Valley area of New York, drugged driving arrests are becoming a common occurrence, and presenting a challenge for law enforcement as a result. Hundreds of people every year are arrested in the three counties – Westchester, Rockland and Putnam – for driving under the influence of drugs, or a combination of drugs and alcohol. The charge of drugged driving is usually a misdemeanor, but in some cases, can become a felony. It can, for instance, become a felony charge if the suspect has been convicted of the charge in the past ten years.
　
“The substances may be different, but the consequences are the same: death and injury,” said Carole Sears, president of the Westchester chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
　
More police officers are becoming trained to identify drugged drivers. It can be more difficult for police officers to identify a drugged driver. Unlike a drunk driver, a drugged driver will not have the smell of alcohol on the breath, bloodshot eyes or slurred speech.
　
“We have devices to measure blood alcohol level quite easily,” said Tech Sgt. Doug Paquette, coordinator of the impaired driving enforcement division of the New York State Police. “We don’t have that for drugs.”

Another Pill Mill Physician Sentenced

admin — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 14:27:06 +0000

A physician from Jupiter apologized to a federal judge at her sentencing last week, saying she did not mean to hurt anyone when she wrote hundreds of thousands of pain pill prescriptions for drug addicts.
　
“I’m extremely sorry for any harm I’ve done during my employment at the clinic,” said Dr. Christine Chico told U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra.
　
Marra sentenced Chico to five years in prison for her role in the Jeff and Chris George pain clinic network. Chico dispensed about 370,000 oxycodone pills, but is cooperating with the continuing George investigation.

More Arrests In Crackdown Against Prescription Drug Sales

admin — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 14:27:07 +0000

Fifty people were arrested last week in southwest Florida. Operation Southwest Shopper targeted people that were illegally purchasing prescription drugs.
　
Those arrested were charged with obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, sale and delivery and forging a doctor’s certificate.
　
The arrests were just part of a continued effort to fight the epidemic of　prescription drug abuse in Florida.

Nassau County Committed To Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse

admin — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 20:00:07 +0000

Long Island’s Nassau County is committed to fighting prescription drug abuse, in the wake of two deadly pharmacy killings, one in Suffolk County on Father’s Day last year, and the other on New Year’s Eve in Nassau County’s Seaford, a small town on the South Shore.
　
The joint effort is with Nassau County’s Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Prevention Task Force, InfraGard, and the Long Island Pharmacy Crimes Task Force. The three organizations will hold a Pharmacist Security Summit on February 7.
　
“Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions nationwide. In Nassau County, we have felt firsthand the devastating effects of prescription drug abuse and will therefore take the lead in addressing this epidemic by implementing safety, awareness and educational initiatives for the public as well as local pharmacists,” said Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano.

Pain Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty

admin — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 21:59:09 +0000

Theodore Obermeyer, the manager of a pain clinic in the George network of pill mills, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in the death of Joey Bartolucci. Bartolucci was 24 when he overdosed on pain pills. Obermeyer pleaded guilty to one count each of second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit drug trafficking. Under the plea agreement, Obermeyer’s potential prison sentence will be capped at 20 years.
　
Obermeyer previously received a 12 year federal prison sentence on charges connected to his part in the pain pill network. Obermeyer is scheduled to begin serving that sentence in April. The judge has scheduled a status hearing for the plea agreement for September.
　
Both George brothers have been sentenced to prison terms for their part in furthering prescription drug addiction in Florida.
　

Lawsuit Filed Against CVS/pharmacy

admin — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 21:59:54 +0000

One physician in Orlando is angry about the decision by　CVS/pharmacy to not fill pain pill prescriptions from a small group of Florida physicians. The Orlando physician says CVS/pharmacy basically pegged him as a criminal. CVS/pharmacy has more than 700 stores in Florida, and has refused to comment on how or why it compiled the list. Many people, however, have praised CVS/pharmacy for taking a strong position at a time when the fight against prescription drug abuse in Florida is still considered to be at the forefront.
　
“We have informed a small number of Florida physicians that CVS/pharmacy will no longer fill the prescriptions they write for Schedule II narcotics. While we regret any inconvenience this may cause for our customers, we treat the dispensing of controlled substances with the utmost care and seriousness. CVS/pharmacy is unwavering in its compliance and measures to prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands,” said CVS/pharmacy spokesman Mike DeAngelis.
　
Dr. Sylvester Hanna owns Wellness Centers USA, an Orlando pain clinic. Hanna filed the defamation suit against CVS/pharmacy, claiming that by Hanna’s placement on the list, CVS/pharmacy is falsely implying that he is acting unethically or illegally.