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.
Posts Tagged ‘drug treatment programs’
Nassau County Committed To Fighting Prescription Drug Abuse
Friday, January 27th, 2012Pain Clinic Manager Pleads Guilty
Thursday, January 26th, 2012Theodore 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.
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.
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.”
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.
South Florida A Hub For Venezuelan Drug Money
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Although relations between the United States and Venezuela continue to deteriorate, suitcases of laundered drug money continues to arrive in south Florida. According to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, south Florida has become a hub of drug-money laundering.
A task force in Broward and Miami-Dade counties has traced millions of dollars to international heroin and cocaine traffickers. More than 15 people in south Florida – mostly Venezuelans – were arrested last year on federal money laundering charges. They are accused of laundering more than $7 million dollars in profits from heroin and cocaine.
“It’s very blatant,” said Carmen Pino, assistant deputy in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Miami. “South Florida is a real hot spot for this because of all the international trade.”
Delray Beach Residents Upset About Planned Sober House
Thursday, December 29th, 2011Residents in Delray Beach are opposing a sober living facility that will soon open in their North Ocean Boulevard neighborhood. The supervised program will be run by the Caron Foundation.
“We certainly have plans to open an additional facility,” said Drew Rothermel, president of Caron Florida operations.
Despite the fact that federal law protects people who are in active recovery, residents still say they do not want the house in their backyard.
“We have been caught off guard and many people are angry for that,” said Cary Glickstein, an area resident and the chairman of Delray Beach’s Planning and Zoning Board. “Transient housing denigrates a neighborhood for a myriad of reasons and in my opinion belongs in the city only where transient lodging is currently allowed – hotel zoning property – and not in single-family neighborhoods.”
Rothermel and advocates for the facility say that this uproar only adds to the discrimination that recovering addicts face every day.