Synthetic drugs are still a problem in Florida. Products like Jazz and Barely Legal are still being marketed as herbal incense and sold at gas stations and tobacco shops throughout the state.
“We are working with law enforcement to do everything we can to ban all these compounds that create these synthetic drugs that are killing our young people,” said Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
It is frustrating for many people on the front lines of the fight. The manufacturers of these synthetic drugs seem to stay one step ahead, just by reformulating their products.
“We are not allowed just to say all of it is illegal because it would be unconstitutional so we have to do what we are allowed to do under the Constitution. It is a priority for the Attorney General to make these drugs illegal,” said Florida Pill Mill Czar Dave Aronberg.
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Former Miss USA Appears In Court In DUI Case
Saturday, January 21st, 2012Former Miss USA Rima Fakih appeared in a suburban Detroit courtroom this week in her drunken driving case. Her attorneys hope the case could be resolved soon with a plea deal.
“I apologize. My lawyer doesn’t want me to talk,” said Fakih.
Her attorney, W. Otis Culpepper, will prepare for a trial, but understands that a plea deal is a possibility.
“Of course she’s remorseful. She’s a model for young women…She’s a woman of substantial character,” said Culpepper.
At the time of her arrest, police found a bottle of champagne inside her Jaguar. Her blood alcohol level was measured at 0.20 %, much higher than Michigan’s limit of 0.08%.
Fakih won the Miss USA title in May of 2010. She was the first Arab-American to be crowned Miss USA, and the first Miss Michigan to win since 1993. Fakih was born in Lebanon, but moved to the United States at a young age.
Surgeon General To Speak At First National Rx Drug Abuse Summit
Friday, January 20th, 2012The epidemic of prescription drug abuse in the United States is a growing public health concern. As a result, the first National Rx Drug Abuse Summit will take place in April in Florida. The summit’s keynote speaker will be the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Regina M. Benjamin.
“The negative impacts of substance abuse span a broad spectrum, including health care costs, public safety, economic development and social services. As ‘America’s Doctor,’ Dr. Benjamin is on the front line of responding to this crisis,” said Karen Kelly, president of Operation UNITE, a non-profit organization based in organization that is coordinating the event.
West Virginia Medical School Receives Grant To Help Pregnant Women With Addiction
Thursday, January 19th, 2012The Marshall Medical School in West Virginia recently received a $50,000 grant to help pregnant women and their children with opiate addiction. Opiate addiction in pregnant women has been associated with birth defects like spina bifida, cleft lip and palate and congenital heart defects.
The grant will allow women to receive comprehensive care for both their pregnancy and their addiction. It will also educate resident and student physicians in identifying and managing women who are struggling with addiction. The money will pay for an addiction recovery clinic, nursing staff and a full-time addiction counselor.
“The whole idea of this is to have a comprehensive center for caring for women with opiate addiction, not only will they get their prenatal care here, but we’ll treat them, convert them from the street drugs they’re taking and as part of that also we have a counselor who will provide addiction counseling,” said Dr. David Jude, a professor and chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Man Convicted Of DUI Manslaughter Now Suing One Of The Victims
Tuesday, January 17th, 2012A Florida man who pleaded guilty to DUI manslaughter is now suing the family of one of three people who died in the Christmas 2007 car crash.
David Belniak claims the crash was not his fault, despite pleading guilty and being sentenced to 12 years in prison. Despite having alcohol and drugs in his system at the time of the crash, Belniak is suing for compensation for pain, suffering and medical bills. The plaintiff’s attorney calls the lawsuit ridiculous.
Eastern North Carolina Struggling With Prescription Drug Abuse
Monday, January 16th, 2012Eastern North Carolina is experiencing dire consequences from prescription drug abuse.
“With the exception of traffic fatalities, prescription drug overdoses are the leading cause of death among young people in Eastern North Carolina,” said North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper.
According to the North Carolina State Center for Health Statistics, the death rate for unintentional overdoses was 11 per 100,000 people, but was higher in the counties of Eastern North Carolina. Eastern North Carolina has seen a 400 percent increase in prescription drug abuse over the past five years. According to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, methadone, oxycodone, hydrocodone and other pain pills were the most common drugs to blame for overdose deaths in Eastern North Carolina.
Man With Three DUI Convictions Arrested
Monday, January 2nd, 2012A 30-year-old man with three previous DUI convictions is accused of driving impaired while speeding away from police with unrestrained children in his van.
Randy Schaub remains in the Pinellas County Jail without bond. He has no attorney on record. He was on felony probation when Pinellas Park police arrested him on Tuesday afternoon. Schaub refused a sobriety test, but was observed by police with slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. Schaub was convicted three times on DUI – in 1998, 2001 and 2003. In 2003, Schaub had his driver’s license revoked for ten years.
Florida Authorities Continuing Fight Against Prescription Drug Abuse
Sunday, January 1st, 2012The authorities in Florida are forging ahead with the fight against prescription drug abuse by scrutinizing more pharmacies, physicians and pain clinics.
Federal investigations have revealed several drug trafficking rings in Broward and Miami-Dade counties. Authorities are charging pill mills and pharmacies as organized criminal enterprises. Florida has also restricted the permit process required to open new pharmacies in the state.
In November, CVS notified some Florida physicians that its pharmacies will no longer fill their prescriptions for drugs like oxycodone, saying it wanted to “prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands.”
Emergency Rooms Prepare For New Year’s Eve
Saturday, December 31st, 2011New Year’s Eve is a busy night for emergency room physicians across the country. In San Francisco last year, emergency rooms experienced approximately a 50 percent increase in patients on New Year’s Eve.
“We’re already preparing to see more patients,” said Dr. Malini Singh, interim medical director for San Francisco General Hospital’s emergency department. “It’s just a reality of New Year’s Eve.”
Alcohol plays a significant role in the traffic in emergency rooms on New Year’s Eve. Broken bones, head wounds and the injuries resulting from drunken driving are the most common problems seen in emergency rooms. Physicians are cautioning people to be responsible with alcohol, while not encouraging people to overindulge in alcohol.
“I don’t want people to think I’m encouraging drinking, but if you do, you have to drink responsibly,” said Dr. Steven Polevoi, the medical director for the University of California at San Francisco emergency department.
Benefits Of Yoga In Drug Treatment Programs
Friday, December 30th, 2011Millions of people across the country are struggling every day with substance abuse, and while the root of addiction is different for everyone, there is a definite connection between an inability to process emotions and stress and the abuse of drugs and alcohol.
Many substance abuse treatment centers are utilizing yoga to help people in their recovery. The immediate and long-term effects of yoga are helping people improve their mental health while they are in active recovery from addiction. Consistent practice of yoga helps people develop respect for their body, learn healthy ways to cope with stress and instill a sense of hope and faith.
Yoga has become popular in recent years, but it is a therapy that is rooted in deep Eastern tradition. Many people find that yoga helps restore the balance of their mind and body, and allows them to better cope with the inevitable stress of everyday life.