Nurse at state veterans' home in Vineland charged with stealing patients' medications

VINELAND -- A 30-year-old nurse employed by the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home was arrested Sunday and charged with stealing medication from patients there.

Sarah Taman, of Woodbine, was charged with unlawful possession of prescription medication (Vicodin), endangering the welfare of the elderly and theft of prescription medication.

According to police, Taman had been employed as a nurse at the veterans home for the last year. Over the past three months, she allegedly stole medication which was designated for elderly patients on the floor where she worked.

Tylenol, an over-the-counter drug, was allegedly substituted in place of Vicodin, a narcotic prescribed for patients suffering from severe pain.

It is believed 10 to 15 patients may have been victims in the incident, according to Vineland Detective Lt. Thomas Ulrich.

Upon her arrest, Taman was in possession of 8 Vicodin pills, Ulrich said.

DEA quota causes painkiller shortage for legitimate uses

Oxycodone is in short supply in some Colorado pharmacies because of a quota imposed on the powerful painkiller, which is abused by both the sick and the slick.

Good-faith efforts to keep the pills from addicts and pushers are also keeping them from those who desperately need them, say some pharmacists.

"We have customers who bring in a prescription from a doctor every month . . . and now we can't fill them," said Dennis Mantas, owner of Wheat Ridge Pharmacy. "It's a big problem."

Jeannine Hawkins, 68, of Littleton, who takes oxycodone to deal with the pain of cancer treatments, nerve damage and knee surgery, used to be able to get a 30-day supply at a time.

This week, "the doctors today told her they could give her just a 10-day supply because of the shortage," her husband, Wayne, 69, said. He's worried that next time, there will be no pain pills available for his ailing wife.

The Drug Enforcement Administration limits the amount of oxycodone and Oxycontin (the leading brand name) manufacturers can produce, said Val Kalnins, executive director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society.

Each year, the DEA estimates how much Oxycontin is needed to meet the "legitimate medical, scientific, research and industrial needs of the United States," then sets the quota accordingly.

Oxycodone is an opioid, as is heroin, codeine, fentanyl and morphine. Too much inventory heightens the chance of its diversion to illegal uses, the DEA says.

But Mantas says the DEA must not have taken into account that the population is getting older, and that means more aches and pains and cancer treatments that need to be treated by Oxycontin and other pain medications.

A recall by drug maker Mallinckrodt and cutbacks by Ethex have exacerbated the shortage, which started about December, say pharmacists.

Oxycontin, also called "Oxy" or "hillbilly heroin," contains the active ingredient oxycodone and first was made in 1996. By 2001, its use had increased twentyfold.

Doctors are prescribing more pain medication, mostly because people legitimately need it, says Mantas.

Certainly, thieves try to steal from the supply, and there are some doctor shoppers who may get a 30-day supply three times for the same injury, say pharmacists. "But you know your regular customers, and you know their issues," Mantas said.

"We have customers who go to their doctor once a month, and stay right on time, right on task," he said. "We can't fill them. They try to switch to something else, but sometimes it's not covered by insurance.

"We're not going to fill prescriptions willy-nilly for anyone who walks in from the street. The DEA's intentions are good, but they're hitting the wrong end of it," Mantas said.

scanlon@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2897

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back. Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353 Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine. Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Stimulant drugs cause cocaine-like brain changes

A common stimulant drug used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can cause brain changes in mice similar to those seen in cocaine addiction, U.S. researchers said on Monday.

They said healthy mice exposed to daily injections of the Novartis drug Ritalin, or methylphenidate, developed changes in the reward centers of their brains, and some of these changes resembled those in mice given cocaine.

"Methylphenidate, which is thought to be a fairly innocuous compound, can have structural and biochemical effects in some regions of the brain that can be even greater than those of cocaine," Dr. Yong Kim of Rockefeller University in New York, whose study was published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said in a statement.

The study, funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, follows a number of studies in humans that have found the drugs to be safe when used to treat ADHD.

It was prompted by reports suggesting that more than 7 million people in the United States have abused methylphenidate, using it to get high or to improve academic performance.

Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, said in a telephone interview that very little is known about the effects of these drugs when used to improve concentration in healthy people.

"What this study shows was in these animals exposure of two weeks to methylphenidate actually produced changes that are comparable to what is seen with chronic exposure to cocaine," Volkow said.

Millions of children take stimulants such as Ritalin and Shire Plc's Adderall to treat ADHD, a condition marked by restlessness, impulsiveness, inattention and distractibility that can interfere with a child's ability to pay attention in school and maintain social relationships.

Volkow stressed that studies in adolescents show methylphenidate does not increase the risk for later addiction, and several have found adolescents with ADHD are far more likely to smoke or abuse drugs, and treatment with stimulants such as Ritalin can lower this risk.

"If you don't treat them as adolescents, actually you may be seeing more abuse of substances," Volkow said.

But she said nonmedical use of methylphenidate and other stimulants may lead to addiction.

Part of the reason there has been an increase in the abuse of stimulant medications has to do with the notion that they are less dangerous than illicit substances, she said.

"This is wrong. They can be as dangerous as illicit substances when used inappropriately."

Sex / Love Addiction

Augustine Fellowship, Sex and Love Addicts Anonymous

International. 1234 affiliated groups. Founded 1976. 12-Step. Fellowship based on A.A. for those who desire to stop living out a pattern of sex and love addiction, obsessive/compulsive sexual behavior or emotional attachment. Newsletter, journal, information and referrals, conferences and phone support.
Write:
Augustine Fellowship
1550 NE Loop 410, Suite 118
San Antonio, TX 78209
Voice: 210-828-7900
Fax: 781-255-9190
Website: http://www.slaafws.org
E-mail: slaafws@slaafws.org
Verified: 1/8/2007

Sexaholics Anonymous

International. 700 chapters. Founded 1979. Program of recovery for those who want to stop sexually self-destructive thinking and behavior. Mutual support to achieve and maintain sexual sobriety. Phone network, quarterly newsletter, literature and books. Guidelines to help start a similar group.
Write:
Sexaholics Anonymous
P.O. Box 3565
Brentwood, TN 37024-3565
Voice: 615-370-6062
Fax: 615-370-0882
Website: http://www.sa.org
E-mail: saico@sa.org
Verified: 1/11/2007

Sex Addicts Anonymous

International. 736 groups. Founded 1977. 12-Step. Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so they may overcome their sexual addiction or dependency. Open to all who share a desire to stop compulsive sexual dependency. Bimonthly newsletter.
Write:
ISO of SAA
P.O. Box 70949
Houston, TX 77270
Voice: 713-869-4902
Website: http://www.saa-recovery.org
E-mail: info@saa-recovery.org
Verified: 10/29/2007

COSA (Codependents Of Sex Addicts)

International. 50+ affiliated groups. Founded 1980. A Self-help program of recovery using the 12 steps adapted from A.A. and Al-Anon, for those involved in relationships with people who have compulsive sexual behavior. Assistance in starting new groups. Newsletter ($24).
Write:
COSA
P.O. Box 14537
Minneapolis, MN 55414
Voice: 763-537-6904
Website: http://www.cosa-recovery.org
E-mail: info@cosa-recovery.org
Verified: 1/22/2007

S-Anon

International. 280 affiliated groups. Founded 1984. 12-Step. Support group for persons who have a friend or family member with a sexual addiction. Assistance available for starting groups. Conferences and quarterly newsletter ($14).
Write:
S-Anon
P.O. Box 111242
Nashville, TN 37222-1242
Voice: 1-800-210-8141
Website: http://www.sanon.org
E-mail: sanon@sanon.org
Verified: 10/26/2007

Sexual Compulsives Anonymous

International. 118+ groups. Founded 1982. (BILINGUAL) 12-Step. Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from sexual compulsion. Based on the 12-step model of recovery. Newsletter, information and referrals, phone support and conferences. Guidelines for starting similar groups.
Write:
Sexual Compulsives Anonymous
P.O. Box 1585 Old Chelsea Station
New York, NY 10011
Voice: 1-800-977-4325
Website: http://www.sca-recovery.org
E-mail: info@sca-recovery.org
Verified: 10/29/2007

Sexual Recovery Anonymous

International. 32 affiliated groups. Founded 1990. 12-Step. Fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover. For those with a desire to stop compulsive sexual behavior. Online referrals, literature and support also available.
Write:
Sexual Recovery Anonymous
P.O. Box 1296
Redondo Beach, CA 90278
Voice: 212-340-4650 (leave message for call back); 323-850-8565 (Los Angeles area) or 604-290-9382 (BC, Canada)
Website: http://www.sexualrecovery.org
E-mail: info@sexualrecovery.org
Verified: 11/12/2007

Overcomers Outreach, Inc.

International. 700 affiliated groups. Founded 1985. 12-Step. Christ-centered support group for persons with any compulsive behavior, as well as their families and friends. Uses 12-steps of A.A. and applies them to the Scriptures. Uses Jesus Christ as 'higher power.' Supplements involvement in other 12-step groups. Newsletter, group development guidelines and conferences.
Write:
Overcomers Outreach
P.O. Box 922950
Sylmar, CA 91392
Voice: 1-800-310-3001
Website: http://www.overcomersoutreach.org
E-mail: info@overcomersoutreach.org
Verified: 4/25/2007

Overcomers In Christ

International. Founded 1987. Recovery program that deals with every aspect of addiction and dysfunction (spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and social). Uses Overcomers goals which are Christ-centered. Resources, literature, information and referrals. Assistance in starting new groups.
Write:
Overcomers In Christ
P.O. Box 34460
Omaha, NE 68134-0460
Voice: 402-573-0966
Fax: 402-573-0960
Website: http://www.OvercomersInChrist.org
E-mail: OIC@OvercomersInChrist.org
Verified: 5/2/2007

Recoveries Anonymous

International. 50 chapters. Spiritual recovery group for anyone seeking a solution for any kind of addition, problem or behavior. Family and friends welcome. 'How To Begin...' guides and 'Start A Group' kit can be downloaded free from the website.
Write:
Recoveries Anonymous
P.O. Box 1212
East Northport, NY 11731
Website: http://www.r-a.org
E-mail: raus@r-a.org
Verified: 9/28/2007

The above information was "verified" as correct on the date at the end of each entry. Since American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse's database is extensive but staffing is limited and information for these organizations can change, it is not possible to keep every entry in American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse database completely current and accurate. Please check with the organizations listed for the most current information.

For additional information on self-help groups, please visit the American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse web site at http://www.mentalhelp.net/selfhelp

If you find information that is not current, please contact American Self-Help Group Clearinghouse at: admin@selfhelpgroups.org

Don't Cut Nutrition from Your Grocery Budget

Trips to the supermarket are getting more and more expensive as the prices of food climb in response to increased fuel costs. If we're to stick to our previous grocery budget, we'll have make some sacrifices - but too often, we start by cutting back on the healthy foods we should be eating more of.

Think about it - white bread is less expensive than whole-grain bread; fatty ground beef is cheaper than the leaner cuts; and sugared cereals are often the ones on sale, not the whole-grain varieties. By always choosing the cheapest products, you may be compromising your health.

I want to encourage you to still make nutritious foods part of your grocery list and think about other ways you can spend less, such as eating at home more often and eating out less. Here are some tips to help you save at the supermarket while still making healthy choices:

* Try to limit your trips to the supermarket to just one a week. This generally cuts down on overall grocery spending and saves you some gas money, as well.
* Make a list and try to stick to it. The only exception should be when you spot a product on sale - stock up on it and increase your overall savings.
* Buy fresh fruits and vegetables when they're in season. Seasonal foods are where the bargains will be.
* Try to purchase locally at a farmer's market. A win-win for you and the farmers. You could even start your own garden.
* Buy more foods in bulk. This often saves money because you're not paying for packaging. But remember: If a food is perishable, only purchase what you can use up soon.
* Limit the snack foods and put more of your money towards healthy meals.

Even though food costs are only going to keep rising, think about your health and don't cut so many corners that you end up shortchanging yourself on nutrition.

Psychotherapy for Depression

It may be an exaggeration to say that there are as many types of psychotherapy as there are therapists, but a great many psychological perspectives and therapeutic techniques have certainly been developed for treating patients with depression. Research studies have even been used to investigate specific types of psychotherapy in the treatment of depression. The use of psychotherapy can be very beneficial, whether done independently or in combination with other treatments such as antidepressant medications.

Psychotherapy can address life circumstances, including factors that may have contributed to the onset of depression or those that perpetuate it. By working with therapists, patients with depression can explore their own role in situations and come up with strategies to make changes in their lives. Psychotherapists can help educate patients about illnesses and offer support related to other treatments, such as maintaining adherence with medications.

The particular advantages of psychotherapy for depression include a relatively rapid and long-lasting improvement in mood. Patients often feel somewhat better soon after beginning therapy. These long-term benefits mean that patients may be less likely to have future recurrences.

The most common forms of psychotherapy for depressed patients are cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and interpersonal therapy (IPT). Psychodynamic therapy also sometimes may be effective.

Cognitive behavioral therapy. CBT generally is provided during a short-term series of individual sessions that address current issues and strategies for problem solving. CBT is usually structured and goal oriented. The cognitive focus highlights distorted or illogical thinking that contributes to depression. A few examples of distorted thinking:

* focusing exclusively on the negative aspects of a situation
* dreading or expecting the worst possible outcome, however unlikely
* thinking that a situation is unbearable or impossible when it is merely uncomfortable
* making decisions and arguments based on how you feel rather than on objective reality
* concentrating on what you think "should" be, rather than on the actual situation

Often the goal of cognitive therapy is to help patients view themselves in a more positive way and avoid negative assumptions about their current circumstances and the future. Typically, CBT incorporates behavioral plans and homework between sessions.

Interpersonal therapy. IPT is an outpatient therapy that focuses on identifying and solving problems in key areas of a patient's life that are assumed to be contributing to depression. Like cognitive behavioral therapy, IPT is a practical type of therapy that addresses current symptoms. The identified problems typically are in the realms of loss and grief, adaptations of changing life circumstances, interpersonal conflicts and disputes, and social limitations.

Psychodynamic psychotherapy. This type of therapy is based on psychoanalytic theory and examines unconscious conflicts. Current conflicts often are viewed in relationship with early development. It is a less structured approach not specifically designed to directly address the symptoms of depression. However, limited research has demonstrated benefits with longer durations of therapy.

Both CBT and IPT are regarded as standard treatments for depression and their use is supported by numerous research studies. However, these psychotherapies are somewhat limited, especially in severely depressed patients unable to engage in therapy. Often the best response in the treatment of patients with major depression is achieved with a combination of medications and psychotherapy.

Anger and Depression: Can Omega-3 Fatty Acids Help

The possible beneficial effect of omega-3 fatty acids on brain development and mental health continues to be an exciting area of research. Certain fatty acids (linoleic acid and alpha-linoleic acid) are essential in our diets. Like vitamins, we need them but can't make them ourselves. We get them from our food or from dietary supplements. Good sources for these beneficial fatty acids are certain fish and plant oils.

I wrote recently about a study which showed that the amount of fish women eat during pregnancy is correlated to the improvements in cognitive development made by their children by age 3. The conclusion was that more fish was better, except when the species of fish consumed had higher-than-average mercury levels.

Quite a lot of research has investigated the effects of omega-3 fatty acids on particular psychiatric disorders. So far, while no conclusive evidence has shown that omega-3s represent effective treatments for specific diseases, controlled clinical studies have shown some improvement in symptoms related to depression, anxiety, and attention.

Some studies suggest that diets supplemented with omega-3 fatty acids can enhance the activity of serotonin and dopamine pathways in the brain, and this may explain the observed benefits. Data also suggest that supplementation with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) yields the best results.

Interestingly, Western diets tend to be low in omega-3 fatty acids. Instead, we're inclined to take in more omega-6 fatty acids, which do not have the same beneficial effects. Some researchers have speculated that the omega-3 dietary deficiency found in developed nations can affect the mental health of these populations and may even contribute to a general increase in aggression and violence within Western societies.

International epidemiologic surveys have further shown that these countries where diets are higher in the omega-6 fatty acid (linoleic acid) have significantly higher murder rates than do those countries where people typically consume foods containing higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids.

Several small studies have demonstrated that people given extra amounts of omega-3 fatty acids became less aggressive and hostile as a result. Some experts have gone so far as to argue that prisoners should be given supplements or a diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids to reduce their hostility and, perhaps, their future criminal behavior.

Researchers at the U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) also argue that optimal intakes of omega-3 fatty acids during both early development and adulthood may help decrease aggression and hostility. They suggest that behavioral problems may result from abnormalities in serotonin functioning, especially in the brain's limbic system, which helps regulate emotional responses.

One NIAAA study of 21 domestic-violence offenders found that low levels of the omega-3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were associated with higher levels of the stress-related corticotropin-releasing hormone, which may encourage violent behavior by increasing fear and anxiety.

It's possible that omega-3 fatty acids affect only the brain's general functioning, so that any mental benefits from these fatty acids do not directly influence the underlying processes that cause specific psychiatric disorders. As usual, more research is necessary.

Beyond their possible mental health benefits, the omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to help reduce serum triglyceride levels and aid in the treatment of hypertension. The American Heart Association recommends that all people, with and without cardiovascular disease, eat a diet rich in these compounds.

One downside: Fish oils apparently decrease platelet aggregation and prolong bleeding time, so very large doses sometimes will cause excessive bleeding in those having that tendency.

In the meantime, eat more fish but be careful not to take in too much mercury, which is found in larger fish like tuna and swordfish. Another option is to take omega-3 fatty acid supplements. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration classifies as "generally regarded as safe" a daily dose of up to 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from fish.

Healthy Heart Tips for a Bad Economy

The economic news is enough to weaken anyone's heart, and it sometimes does with people feeling stressed, eating poorly and cutting out workouts while trying to make ends meet.

"We've seen an increase in patients complaining about heart palpitations, anxiety and stress over the past months," Karol Watson, an associate professor of cardiology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, said in a news release issued by the school. "Much of heart disease can be prevented. That's why it is so important to follow a healthy lifestyle and to control your cardiovascular risk factors."

UCLA cardiologists offer these tips for adults and children in these tough economic times:

* Eat better; exercise more. Eat a healthy diet, including five servings of fruits and vegetables every day. By cooking simple fresh foods at home, rather than indulging in restaurant fare or fast foods, you can save money and your health. Maintaining a good diet and exercise program -- even if it's just 30 minutes of walking around the neighborhood -- helps you prevent obesity, which adds to the risk of heart attacks, heart failure and diabetes.
* Don't skimp on health care. Putting off doctor visits, especially when you have symptoms, hurts your health more in the long run, as does skipping medications or splitting pills to cut costs. Maintain regular checkups. Look at pharmaceutical company prescription programs if medication costs are a concern for you.
* Stop smoking and avoid secondhand smoke. Smoking is an expensive habit that greatly increases your risk of cardiovascular problems. Quitting smoking quickly reduces the risk to your heart.
* Reduce stress. Find a positive outlet -- such as exercise, meditation or the company of others -- to ease stress and improve your health.
* Maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Get your levels checked and talk to your physician about the best plan of action to keep your LDL ("bad") cholesterol levels low and your HDL ("good") cholesterol levels high.
* Check your blood pressure. Hypertension is called the "silent killer," because it exhibits few warning signs. Today, several effective treatments are available for high blood pressure. If your blood pressure is normal, maintain it with a healthy lifestyle.

More information

The American Heart Association has more about maintaining a heart healthy lifestyle.

Medications Prescribed for Depression

There are quite a lot of medications that sometimes are prescribed for the treatment of depression. Here are 3 broad categories:

* the medications that we typically call antidepressants—those approved by the FDA with specific indications for the treatment of depression
* medications prescribed for treating bipolar disorder that may treat or prevent depressive episodes
* certain medications prescribed along with antidepressants to augment their effects, most commonly when an antidepressant alone has not been satisfactory

Meds developed for depression. There are about 20 medications approved by the FDA for the treatment of depression. While some are similar in their pharmacologic actions, others are unique. It is curious that such a broad spectrum of different types of medications can improve mood.

Which one is best? That depends on the individual. In research studies with groups of depressed people, all of these medications tend to be equally effective; however, sometimes individuals respond better to one or another. Often, the selection of an antidepressant has more to do with avoiding side effects than a particular medication's effectiveness.

Meds developed for bipolar disorder. Mood stabilizers developed for bipolar disorder can also help prevent depression, as well as mania. Drugs approved by the FDA for the treatment of bipolar disorder include lithium, lamotrigine (Lamictal), valproate (Depakote), carbamazepine (Equetro), olanzapine (Zyprexa), risperidone (Respirdal), quetiapine (Seroquel), and ziprasidone (Geodon). Occasionally, other anticonvulsants are recommended for their possible mood stabilizing effects. Meds that augment antidepressants. Many different medications have been prescribed to augment antidepressants. Although the use of several different drugs is supported by research studies, most have not been evaluated by the FDA for this purpose. Among these augmenting medications are lithium, thyroid medications, stimulants, some antipsychotics, and a few miscellaneous drugs. Aripiprazole (Abilify) has been specifically approved by the FDA as an add-on medication for patients with major depression.

Herbal remedies for depression. Are there natural remedies for major depression? People sometime do take herbal preparations or try other alternative-medicine approaches. The remedy that has gained some support from research studies is St. John's wort, which is derived from plants in the hypericum genus. St. John's wort, which is not regulated by the FDA for use in the U.S., is most likely to be helpful in milder cases of depression.

Antidepressants Can Be Lifesavers

Antidepressant medications work equally well for most depressed people, but certain antidepressants may be more effective for particular individuals. Sometimes one antidepressant will be helpful after another has failed, or an antidepressant ultimately may help once another medication has been added to augment its effect.

Antidepressants usually are taken daily. Often it takes several weeks for them to be effective. Although some symptoms may improve early, it may take 6 to 8 weeks or longer to achieve the maximum benefits.

Antidepressants generally are helpful for people suffering with major depression, which is a sustained type of depression lasting for weeks or longer and that affects how people feel and function most days.

Although antidepressants are most helpful for more serious types of depression, they also might benefit people with milder depressions.

Antidepressants decrease symptoms of depression rather than directly elevate mood. They are not really mood stimulants. People without symptoms of mood or anxiety disorders generally will have no positive effects from antidepressants.

When people with major depression have responded well to an antidepressant, generally it is recommended that they continue taking the medication for 6 to 12 months. If they have experienced repeated depressive episodes, often it is suggested that they remain on antidepressant medication indefinitely to prevent recurrences.

When people are discontinuing an antidepressant, usually it is recommended that they decrease the dose gradually to avoid any withdrawal symptoms. However, serious side effects may require a sudden discontinuation of a medication. Always coordinate medication changes with a health care provider.

Some antidepressants need to be started at a low dose that is gradually increased over a period of weeks to avoid side effects. However, many of the newer antidepressants can be started at the full therapeutic dose.

The pharmacologic actions of antidepressants vary considerably. Their positive effects are thought to relate to how they influence the receptors for serotonin, norepinephrine, or dopamine in the central nervous system. However, their effects on these and other neurotransmitter systems can cause bothersome or even dangerous side effects.

Antidepressants that are safe and effective when taken alone may become ineffective or unsafe when combined with certain other medications or substances. It is important to make sure that all health care prescribers know all meds a patient is taking to avoid undesired interactions.

Antidepressants have helped millions of people. Often they have been life saving. Most people taking antidepressants benefit from them and tolerate them well. Serious side effects are rare, but it is important that they be taken as prescribed.

If you're taking an antidepressant medication, make sure that you know the name and dose of the drug, when it should be taken, whether any particular foods or other substances should be avoided, whether it should be taken with meals, what common side effects you might experience, and any serious side effects that you should alert your prescriber about right away.

Antidepressants: Know Your Options

About 2 dozen antidepressant medications are approved by the FDA for use in the U.S. Some date back to the 1950s, while others have been released in the past few years. Some are like siblings, with very similar chemical characteristics, while others are more like distant cousins with very different pharmacologic properties. Some of the shorter-acting medications are available in extended-release pill formulations that release the drug over a longer period of time. All of the antidepressants are available in tablet or capsule form, a few are made in liquid preparations, and one is available as a patch.

Antidepressants affect neurotransmitters in the brain that are believed to be involved in the regulation of mood, although exactly how and why they work is not fully understood. The two key neurotransmitters influenced by antidepressants are norepinephrine and serotonin, although some affect dopamine. Antidepressants may block the reuptake of these neurotransmitters or interact with neurotransmitter receptors at synapses within the brain.

The earliest antidepressants were the tricyclic compounds (TCA), named for their chemical structure, and the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs). The MAOIs act by interfering with the action of monoamine oxidase, an enzyme that ordinarily breaks down the beneficial neurotransmitters such as serotonin and norepinephrine. By slowing this breakdown, MAOI allows the neurotransmitters to remain active longer. While both these early classes of drugs are effective antidepressants, the TCAs and MAOIs are both associated with bothersome side effects, sometime serious ones.

New types of antidepressants rapidly became available in the 1980s, especially with the popularity of the selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRI) like Prozac. Over the past few decades, selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI), serotonin modulating antidepressants (SMA), a dopamine and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor (DNRI), a tetracyclic antidepressant, a newer type of MAOI, and a norepinephrine and selective serotonergic antidepressant (NaSSA) were approved and marketed. All have certain advantages and disadvantages.

Here is a list of the antidepressants currently available in the U.S. I've listed the generic names along with the primary brand name, and the antidepressant type of each:

Generic Name


Brand Name


Type

Amitriptyline


Elavil®


TCA

Bupropion


Wellbutrin®


DNRI

Citalopram


Celexa®


SSRI

Clomipramine


Anafranil®


TCA

Desipramine


Nopramin®


TCA

Doxepin


Sinequan®


TCA

Duloxetine


Cymbalta®


SNRI

Escitalopram


Lexapro®


SSRI

Fluoxetine


Prozac®


SSRI

Fluvoxamine


Luvox®


SSRI

Imipramine


Tofranil®


TCA

Isocarboxacid


Marplan®


MAOI

Maprotiline


Ludiomil®


Tetracyclic

Mirtazapine


Remeron®


NaSSA

Nortriptyline


Pamelor®


TCA

Paroxetine


Paxil®


SSRI

Phenelzine


Nardil®


MAOI

Protriptyline


Vivactyl®


TCA

Selegiline


Emsam®


MAOI

Sertraline


Zoloft®


SSRI

Tranylcypromine


Parnate®


MAOI

Trazodone


Desyrel®


SMA

Trimipramine


Surmontil®


TCA

Venlafaxine


Effexor®


SNRI

For Healthy Brains, Get the Lead Out

Recently I've been writing about various substances that seem to be either healthy (omega-3 fatty acids) or poisonous (mercury) to our brains. The metal lead definitely belongs in the latter category — its persistent toxic effects on the central nervous system have been known for decades. In spite of efforts to reduce the ways that lead can enter our bodies, the problem of lead exposure continues.

Over the past century, the most important sources of lead exposure have been through paint and gasoline. (The Australians first identified lead-based paint as a source of deadly childhood poisoning in 1904.) Laws now restrict lead in these products; however, many older houses still have lead paint that chips or disintegrates into dust and can be ingested or inhaled by people.

Lead has an especially detrimental effect on children. This is why the recent reports that certain toys produced in China had unacceptable lead levels sparked such an outpouring of concern and anger.

What's wrong with lead? In addition to causing many other toxic effects throughout the body, lead exposure, in the nervous systems of children, can permanently impair mental development by lowering intelligence and causing behavioral problems. Some recent research has suggested that exposure to lead during childhood can increase the risk of criminal behavior later in life.

Between 1979 and 1984, researchers in Cincinnati measured the lead levels of 376 pregnant women, as well as the lead levels of the children born from those pregnancies, up through the first 7 years of life.

In the intervening years, the researchers have been able to follow 250 of those original children into early adulthood. Now, a new study has assessed the criminal records of these 250 subjects. Perhaps not so surprisingly, the researchers found that 55 percent of these young adults had been arrested at least once.

The researchers then referred back to the group's lead-level measurements taken before birth and up to age 7. Sure enough, a direct relationship was found between the number of arrests a young adult had and his or her lead levels during childhood. In fact, the relationship was the strongest for violent crimes, including murder, rape, domestic violence, assault, robbery, and possession of weapons.

In a related research project, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies were performed on 157 individuals from the Cincinnati lead study already cited above. It was found that higher lead levels were associated with reductions in the volume of adult-brain gray matter that was located in the specific areas associated with decision making and mood regulation. These findings were especially prominent among the males.

There is no way to reverse the detrimental effects of lead on the brain, but it may be possible to limit future damage in people who have elevated lead levels. A blood test can confirm whether the body's lead level is excessive and, when the levels are high, medications can help remove some of the lead.

Fortunately, the risk of lead exposure in our environment is much lower now than it was several decades ago, but it is important for our society to remain vigilant. The goal of the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is to eliminate elevated blood levels in children by the year 2010 — 106 years after the Australians first identified the problem.

Elderly: Talk to Your Doctor About Depression

If you are not feeling well emotionally, you should see your doctor, right? Yes, of course—but just going to the doctor won't guarantee that your emotional problems will get much attention, particularly if you are elderly.

Many primary care doctors diagnose and treat major depression and other psychiatric disorders; however, a new study of elderly patients published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society suggests that the mental health issues of senior citizens are often not identified or are, at best, discussed only in passing.

Even though about half the elderly patients in the study reported experiencing some degree of depression, less than a quarter of them got to actually discuss their problems during visits with their doctor. And these discussions typically lasted about 2 minutes!

This tells us that these patients either do not think to tell their primary care doctor about their mood, or that doctors often do not follow up on older patients' expressions of emotional distress.

The researchers argue that primary care physicians should themselves be given greater support in treating and, when appropriate, referring patients with depression, suicidal thoughts and related mental health disturbances.

Here's a Geriatric Depression Scale you can use to gauge whether you or an older person you know may be depressed:

1.
Are you basically satisfied with your life?
2. Have you dropped many of your activities and interests?
3. Do you feel that your life is empty?
4. Do you often get bored?
5. Are you in good spirits most of the time?
6. Are you afraid that something bad is going to happen to you?
7. Do you feel happy most of the time?
8. Do you often feel helpless?
9. Do you prefer to stay at home, rather than going out and doing things?
10. Do you feel that you have more problems with memory than most?
11. Do you think it is wonderful to be alive now?
12. Do you feel worthless the way you are now?
13. Do you feel full of energy?
14. Do you feel that your situation is hopeless?
15. Do you think that most people are better off than you are?

Score one point each if you answered No to Questions 1, 5, 7, 11, and 13. Score one point each if you answered Yes to Questions 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, and 15. Total the points.

A score of 5 or more points raises the possibility that you have major depression and that you should certainly consider consulting with a health care provider. You can find out more about the scale and other related information from the Geriatric Mental Health Foundation.

The take-home message: Speak up, be your own advocate, and be explicit. Make sure that you get across to your health care providers that you are suffering from emotional problems and address your concerns. Don't wait for them to guess how you are feeling.

Eat Fish For a Healthy Brain

A recent study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology examined the relationship between what women ate while they were pregnant and the cognitive test scores of their children three years after birth.

The study results revealed that women who ate fish while pregnant gave birth to babies who by age 3 had significantly better cognitive and fine-motor skills than those whose mothers didn't eat fish during pregnancy.

The 3-year-olds from the women who reported eating more than 2 servings of fish per week performed better than average on tests that assessed receptive vocabulary and visual-spatial, visual-motor, and fine-motor skills.

This result is significant because the most important time of development for our brains is before we are born. Almost all of our neurons have been created by the time of our mothers' second trimesters, when the critical process of establishing the correct interconnections is taking place.

Our thinking, behavior, and cognitive abilities, of course, ultimately result from the functioning of our brains. Therefore, abnormalities in our brains that arise early in its development can result in abnormal thinking and behavior later on.

Why fish? Because fish is a rich source of particular health-promoting OMEGA 3 fatty acids that are known to be important components of the brain's structure.

There is a downside to eating fish while pregnant, however. Fish also can be a source of mercury, which has a devastating effect on brain development. In fact, the 3-year-olds from those women who had higher-than-average mercury levels when pregnant tended to score lower on the above tests.

Large, long-living fish such as tuna and swordfish, which feed on other fish and thus keep accumulating mercury, are the most likely to have elevated levels of the poison. Types of seafood that generally have low mercury levels include shrimp, sardines, and salmon.

Another study, published in a recent issue of the journal Pediatrics, demonstrated the benefits of similar fatty acids on brain development. Researchers gave premature infants milk supplemented with essential fatty acids. At the age of 6 months, the infants given the supplements scored better on development assessments than did similar premature infants given no supplements.

While fatty acids play an important role early on in the developing brain, they may also be important for brain and mental health throughout our lives. Scientists continue to explore their health-promoting effects, including whether they may prevent certain psychiatric disorders.

Sex and Aging: A New Survey

I was interested to see the recent report in the August 23, 2007, issue of the New England Journal of Medicine suggesting that sexual relations often accompany healthy aging. This research should be reassuring news, since none of us is getting any younger.

I like to emphasize that mental health goes far beyond the absence of mental disorders. Thus, sexuality is one realm of our lives that may reflect aspects of mental well-being and satisfaction within healthy relationships.

It is, however, a behavioral domain that can also be associated with disorders. There are specific sexual disorders, and our sexual experiences can be influenced by mood, anxiety, and many other factors.

Like most people, I don't really want to know the details about my parents' sexual activities; however, I am aware that they remained sexually active for most of their 61 years of marriage. The NEJM article by Dr. Stacy Tessler Lindau from the University of Chicago and her colleagues shows that my parents were not unusual.

The researchers presented data on the prevalence of sexual activity, behaviors, and problems in a general population sample of over 3,000 U.S. adults ages 57 to 85 years. The percentages of individuals in different age categories reporting that they remained sexually active were as follows:

73% – Ages 57 to 64 years
53% – Ages 65 to 74 years
26% – Ages 75 to 85 years

About half of men and women reported at least one bothersome sexual problem. Most common among men was erectile dysfunction and for women low desire, problems with vaginal lubrication, and inability to climax.

The authors concluded that "the majority of older adults are engaged in spousal or other intimate relationships and regard sexuality as an important part of life," and that "a substantial number of men and women engage in vaginal intercourse, oral sex, and masturbation even in the eighth and ninth decades of life."

The Dangers of Abusing Prescription Narcotics

Ten Things Teens and Their Families Should Know about the Dangers of Abusing Prescription Narcotics

“Ten Things Teens and Their Families Should Know about the Dangers of Prescription Painkillers,” in response to the study recently released from The National Institute on Drug Abuse stating that high numbers of teenagers continue to abuse prescription drugs. As the number of dependencies to prescription narcotics in the U.S. continues to rise, it is critical that parents are able to recognize the telltale warning signs of abuse and are armed with the right information to educate their teens on the dangers associated with abuse of OxyContin, Vicodin, over-the-counter cold medicine and other medications, according to Clare Kavin, executive director for the Waismann Method and addiction specialist.

“Teens and children are being introduced to recreational use of prescription medication at a much younger age than most would expect and are gaining easier access to them,” said Kavin. “Recent reports of Hollywood stars abusing these drugs will most likely elevate the problem as teens attempt to emulate their favorite celebrities. As with any other drug or with alcohol, parents need to educate their children about the health risks involved with using these drugs for fun.”

According to Kavin, prescription drugs can easily make their way into and out of households. Taking the time to talk to family members about the dangers of drugs could be a preventative measure that lasts a lifetime.

Kavin offers parents the following advice:

1. Face the Facts. Denial can prevent you from recognizing a real problem at home. Parents need to be honest about the possibility that their child may give into to the temptation to experiment.

2. Acknowledge Inherent Risks. Legal or not, prescription drugs are just as harmful as street drugs. Prescription painkillers like Oxycodone are synthetic (man made) opiates, the family of drugs from which heroin is derived.

3. Keep an Eye Out for the “Graduate.” Children as young as 13-15 years old can easily graduate from abusing Oxycontin (a legal opiate drug) to abusing heroin (an illegal opiate drug). The two drugs have similar effects, therefore attracting the same abuse population.

4. Leverage Headlines. To make a good point with your kids, take advantage of incidents in the news to talk to your family about the dangers of prescription drugs. Recently, Nicole Richie allegedly admitted to taking Vicodin when she was arrested for driving under the influence. Her life-threatening drive can serve as an example of a story to discourage teens from trying drugs.

5. Don’t Assume It Can’t Be You. You’re not necessarily in the clear if your teen is head cheerleader or the class president. Not all kids who abuse prescription drugs are dark, depressed, and troubled.

6. Beware of Emotional Roller-coasters. Changes in a teen’s normal behavior can be a sign of dependency. Social withdrawal, desensitized emotions (indifference or disinterest in things that previously brought them pleasure) and increased inactivity may point to a more serious problem.

7. Watch Out for Going Grunge. Personal hygiene may diminish as a result of a drug addiction. Significant weight loss may occur, and glazed eyes may indicate an underlying problem.

8. Become a Micro Manager. If your teen is prescribed a pain-relieving medication, closely monitor the dosage and frequency the drug is ingested. Also, if you or your spouse is prescribed a prescription painkiller, be sure to keep it out of your childrens reach and dispose of any extras once you no longer need the medication.

9. Play it Smart. Listen carefully when your doctor or pharmacist gives instructions for a drug for a family member, and never increase dosage or the frequency of taking a medication without consulting your physician.

10.Trust Your Instincts. If you suspect that a family member is abusing prescription drugs, consult a doctor or seek professional help right away. Medical professionals can refer you to treatment programs but the most important thing is to seek help in a timely matter.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Colonial Pharmacy burglarized

BUFFALO TWP — Painkillers and petty cash were stolen from the Colonial Pharmacy in a smash-and-grab burglary early this morning.
Buffalo Township police believe the same burglars broke into the same Ekastown Road drugstore nearly three months ago.
"We're looking at three people," said Patrolman Jason Sappe.
He said police have "persons of interest" in the burglaries; however, he would not elaborate.
The burglars in the latest break-in struck at 3:08 a.m., the time an alarm at the pharmacy alerted police. Officers were there in minutes, but the suspects already were gone.
Police said the burglars used a pry bar device to smash out a front window and get inside. The trio possibly laid in wait until a cleaning crew at a doctor's office next door left, before making their move.
The burglars scooped up an unknown amount of prescription drugs, believed to be painkillers.
"They grabbed whatever they could get their hands on,"Sappe said, "and took a small amount of cash in the drawer."
He estimated the money amounted to less than $50.
The burglars did not linger and drove away in a vehicle. There were apparently no witnesses, police said.
Asimilar burglary on Nov. 10 netted the burglars 2,800 pills of the painkillers Vicodin and Percocet, and $150, police said.
The earlier break-in about 3:45 a.m. was made when the suspects cut a hole through the roof to get into the store.
Police are asking anyone who might have seen anything suspicious this morning at or around the Colonial Pharmacy to call the station at 724-295-9500.

Doctor with Coachella Valley ties arrested

A doctor with ties to the Coachella Valley has been arrested on suspicion of using her patients’ identities and stolen physician prescription pads to illegally obtain more than 30,000 tablets of addictive painkillers.

On Monday, the Riverside County District Attorney’s office filed 276 felony counts against Dr. Lisa Michelle Barden, of Rancho Cucamonga, including commercial burglary, forgery, obtaining a controlled substance by fraud, possession of a controlled substance, insurance fraud and identity theft, California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. announced Monday.

“This physician wrecked havoc on the lives of dozens of patients, violating her oath and abusing her position as a doctor,” Brown said.

Barden, an obstetrician/gynecologist — who at one time was on the medical staff at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs — was arrested on Jan. 29 following a 13-month investigation by the California Department of Justice’s Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

Barden is suspected of illegally obtaining prescription drugs, including hydrocodone (Vicodin) and oxycodone (Oxycotin), on 131 separate occasions from more than 43 different pharmacies and using the stolen indentities of 93 patients.

While practicing in the Coachella Valley, Barden is suspected of stealing prescription pads from five physicians on the staff at Desert Regional Medical Center and personal information from 15 of her patients, said Paul Marquis, special agent with the Department of Justice Bureau of Narcotic Enforcement.

Barden used the personal identification information from her patients and forged signatures on the stolen prescription pads to fraudulently obtain the drugs, Marquis said.

Don Brady, marketing director for Desert Regional Medical Center, said Barden resigned from the medical staff about six months ago.

Eight arrested in drug bust

Eight people were arrested Thursday in a drug bust at an Independence apartment complex.

The arrests were the result of a three-month joint investigation into narcotics trafficking by the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force and the Independence Police Department.

The suspects were arrested at the Taylor Ridge Apartments on Regal Ridge Drive.

Randy L. Luster, 22, of Latonia Lakes, is charged with three counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

James D. Soult, 19, of Independence, is charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (heroin).

Anthony M. Stanfield, 25, of Independence, is charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (crack cocaine).

Tiffany R. Haggard, 19, of Independence, is charged with two counts of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Oxycontin).

Barbara M. Lauderman, 42, of Independence, is charged with one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Oxycontin).

George E. Casey, 29, of Independence, is charged with one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Vicodin).

Demetrius L. Simpson, 44, of Independence, is charged with two counts of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance (Vicodin).

Jennifer R. Slusher, 35, of Independence, is charged with one count of first-degree trafficking in a controlled substance and one count of second-degree trafficking in a controlled substance.

First-degree trafficking in controlled substance is a Class C Felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Second-degree trafficking is a Class D Felony punishable by up to 5 years in prison.

Overnight Burglary at Medford Pharmacy

Police in Medford are looking for whoever broke into a pharmacy there overnight on Thursday.

Sergeant Bryan Cary with the Medford Police Department says it happened at the Valu-Rite Drug Store at about 1:30 this morning.

He says when officers arrived at the scene, they found the front door broken. An undisclosed amount of the generic form of the painkiller Vicodin was taken.

He says whoever broke in likely ran off quickly, because the store's alarm went off, that allowed police to respond to the scene minutes after it was triggered.

Investigators are continuing to follow up on leads in the case, they ask you to call (715) 748-1447 if you have any information.

Attention Leukemia Patients

Benzene exposure has been linked to an increased risk of certain types of leukemia, a type of cancer affecting the cells that create blood in the bone marrow and then spreading to the blood and in some cases other parts of the body. AML (Acute Myeloid Leukemia) , CLL (Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia) and other blood cancers are typically treated with chemotherapy, or doses of cancer-fighting medications. AML and CLL affect the blood stem cells. In AML, the stem cells intended to become myeloblasts, red blood cells or platelets may be affected. In CLL, the lymphoid stem cells which become lymphoblasts and then B-cells, T-cells, or NK-cells, may be affected.
Acute Myeloid Leukemia

The primary type of leukemia linked with Benzene exposure is called Acute Myeloid Leukemia, or AML. It is also sometimes referred to by these names: acute myelocytic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, acute granulocytic leukemia, and acute non-lymphocytic leukemia. This type of leukemia progresses quickly and starts in early forms of myeloid cells including white blood cells, red blood cells (except lymphocytes), or platelet-making cells.
Who is at Risk for Leukemia from Benzene Exposure?

Those who have been exposed to Benzene either through inhalation or skin contact are at a higher risk for developing AML, and to some extent, CLL. Inhalation is the primary way that Benzene enters the body. The following groups of people are at a higher risk of Benzene exposure:

Those who work with Benzene

* Workers in the rubber industry
* Workers in oil refineries
* Workers in chemical plants
* Workers in shoe factories
* Workers in the oil/gasoline industry
* Those who have inhaled gas fumes
* Those who live or work near an area where Benzene has been released into the air or water or around hazardous waste sites

For More Information on Compensation

Prescription drug thefts on the rise

HILBERT - "I look like this and yell who is it, and if they don't answer I don't unlock it," said Dennis LaPlant at his front door.

For the past few days 62-year-old Dennis LaPlant says he and his wife have been living like prisoners in their own home.

"Neither one of us is brave enough to go outside yet," said Sharon LaPlant.

"That's the first thing that comes to the door," said Dennis holding up a knife, "And its razor sharp and I ain't afraid to use it now."

That's because on Friday afternoon LaPlant says, three masked men came in, armed with baseball bats, demanding prescription drugs.

"I'm sitting here, looked up and by that time, bam I was out," said Dennis.

"And this guy puts a bat in my face and says where's your oxycodone?" said Sharon.

The couple says within minutes the masked men had scooped it all up and left, leaving Sharon scared, and her husband with 11 stitches.

Officials with the Calumet County Sheriff's Department say they're still investigating the crime and following up on leads; but the head of the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit which deals with drug crimes in Outagamie, Winnebago, Fond du Lac and Calumet counties says thefts of prescription medications, like what happened to the LaPlants are on the rise.

"Our drug unit has listed prescription drugs as the number two drug threat behind crack cocaine facing this area," said Brad Dunlap of the Lake Winnebago Area MEG Unit.

In 2003 drug agents seized 108 doses of prescription drugs but the most recent data from 2007 shows it increased to more than 2,000. Oxycodone being one of the most common.

"It's very similar to heroin with how it affects the body and has a very high addictive potential," said Dunlap.

But the LaPlants say it won't happen to them again. Not only is their house now a fortress but Sharon, who takes the drugs for severe pain, says she's no longer going to keep it in the house.

"Oh if they come back there will be no more oxycodone here. I'll just suffer. It's not worth it," said Sharon.

The leader of the MEG unit says people usually steal the drugs to feed their own addictions, but they can also sell the drugs. For example, oxycodone can sell for up to $80 a pill.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Fort Smith police nab 28 suspects in illegal prescription drug sales

FORT SMITH - Police arrested 28 people Thursday, suspected of being part of a network that illegally sold prescription drugs.

A news release from the Fort Smith Police Department said 80 felony warrants were issued against 45 people believed to be involved in the ring. Police continue searching for the 17 people not yet arrested.

Nearly 150 others not named in arrest warrants were identified as suspected abusers and illicit distributors of prescription medications, the release said.

The arrests capped a 13-month investigation, dubbed Operation River Valley Pharming, by the Police Department's narcotics division with help from the Arkansas State Police.

"This is a big network," police spokesman Sgt. Levi Risley said. "They knew when people were going in for medication and would make arrangements to go in and buy them [from those people] the next day."

Sometimes, undercover officers and confidential sources purchased the drugs in pharmacy or doctor office parking lots. Others were made at residences, on the streets and once in a church.

Several officers from local, state and federal agencies formed arrest teams that fanned out through the area beginning at 8 a.m. Thursday to round up those charged.

Risley said those arrested were charged with one or more counts of delivery of metham- phetamine, delivery of oxycodone, delivery of marijuana, delivery of diazapam, delivery of hydrocodone, delivery of Ecstasy and delivery of Dilaudid.

There were no doctors or pharmacists among those arrested Thursday, Risley said.

Risley said narcotics officers investigating illegal prescription drug sales found the transactions were being made as part of a complex network.

"All these people are linked in some way," Risley said.

In many cases, the person obtaining the prescription medication was doing so legally, he said. In other cases, persons feigned illness in order to receive prescriptions for pain medication.

They would sell the medication for a large profit. A typical oxycodone prescription filled on a Medicaid or Medicare account would cost the patient $7 to $10. The pills sold individually would net the seller $250 to $500 profit, according to the news release.

The Police Department spent $8,500 on undercover drug buys during the investigation, and the state police spent $1,500 of its drug-buy funds, the release said.

According to the release, the police operation is being done in phases.

The first phase ended Thursday. The second phase will focus on programs to assist families struggling with abuse of prescription drugs.

The third phase will go after the mid- and upper-level distributors and any health-care professionals that are violating the law, Risley said.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Suspect in threat to blow up Portsmouth pharmacy in custody

A man is in police custody after a threat to blow up a Rite Aid drug store on the 1100 block of London Blvd..

A man entered the store at 2:42 p.m., approached the manager and demanded a narcotic, said Jan Westerbeck, police spokeswoman. He told the manager a bomb would go off in five minutes if the manager did not comply. Police would not specify what narcotic he wanted.

All employees and store patrons got out of the building, Westerbeck said. The man was left inside, wearing an object around his neck, which he said was the device that would go off, she said.

Police SWAT members entered the store and waited for State Police bomb technicians, Westerbeck said.

A loud noise was heard at 4:46 p.m. and a puff of smoke was visible in the vicinity of the store's drive-through lane, where bomb technicians disposed of the device.

The device was roughly three by five inches and resembled a keyboard or keypad, Westerbeck said.

Roads in the area were blocked as a precaution, but traffic is now moving again in the area.

No injuries were reported.

Virginia Beach police are investigating a similar incident that occurred Sunday night, said Adam Bernstein, police spokesman.

Bernstein said that at about 8 p.m. on Sunday, a white male entered a Rite Aid store on the 3600 block of Virginia Beach Blvd., went to the pharmacy counter and demanded OxyContin. He insinuated he had some sort of device, Bernstein said.

The clerk complied, gave the man the drugs and he fled the store, Bernstein said.

Police plan to interview the man in Portsmouth police custody to determine if there is a connection between the two incidents, Bernstein said.

Pharmacy patrols underway following string of Oxycontin robberies

Pharmacy patrols underway following string of Oxycontin robberies

Posted: Feb 5, 2009 02:18 PM

Robber flees Spokane Valley Rite-Aid pharmacy, may be connected to other incidents
Sheriff searching for painkiller thief

Another Rite Aid pharmacy robbed

Suspect in string of Rite Aid robberies arrested

Armed robbery at South Hill Walgreen's

Spokane Valley Walgreens robbed of Oxycontin

Reward offered as police search for pharmacy robber
SPOKANE, Wash. - Sheriff's deputies and Spokane Valley police have begun regular pharmacy checks during their shifts in an effort to combat the recent wave of oxycontin robberies in Spokane County.

Deputies and officers who have pharmacies within their district boundaries are being required to make regular contacts with those businesses during their shifts. A similar program involving banks and credit unions has existed for years.

Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Thursday that although a deputy or officer may not be at the pharmacy at the same time as someone intent on robbing it, his message to suspects engaged in the robberies is, "Do you feel lucky?"

If you witness any suspicious activity in the area of local pharmacies, you should call Crime Check at 456-2233.

Previous Coverage
Police say robbery suspect hit multiple targets
SPOKANE, Wash. - Police are investigating after an apparent attempted armed robbery at the Check into Cash business in the 900 block of N. Division. The same store was also hit last week, however this time the robber was not able to get any money. The attempted robbery occurred just after 6:00 p.m. Tuesday.

Witnesses say the suspect approached the door with a gun and tried to enter the business but was unable to because the doors had already been locked. Witnesses add the suspect, a white male, banged on the door in an attempt to enter the store. He supposedly appeared very 'twitchy.'

Police say suspect is the same man responsible for three successful robberies at check cashing business in the last two weeks, including the robbery last week of tonight's attempted target.

At 6:40 police received a call of a reported robbery from the pharmacy at the North Point Shopko located at 9520 N. Newport Hwy. The suspect displayed a gun and made off with about 1000 tablets of Oxycontin. No one was hurt in the robbery.

After reviewing surveillance video police identified the suspect as the same man who they say attempted to rob the Check into Cash store on north Division just about an hour before the Shopko robbery.

The suspect was described as white male, approximately 160 pounds and was wearing a dark hoodie and blue jeans.

Anyone with information is urged to call 911.





Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

OxyContin Lawsuit

OxyContin Lawsuit: Legal Help for Victims of Oxycontin Addiction

OxyContin has emerged as one of the most addictive narcotic prescription painkillers ever approved by the FDA. Oxycontin is very similar to morphine, and is used to treat moderate to severe pain. Unfortunately, many patients who are prescribed OxyContin for legitimate reasons become severely addicted to the drug, many of which require rehabilitation to free themselves of the addiction.

In January 2004, congressional investigators stated that Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, delivered promotional videos to physicians making unsupported claims that minimized the dangers of the medication. In May 2007, Purdue Pharma, L.P., pleaded guilty to a federal felony of intentionally, knowingly, and fraudulently misbranding OxyContin in order to persuade health care providers to specifically prescribe its painkiller to their patients. As a result of these actions, OxyContin became one of the best selling pain medications of all time.
Legal Help Only Available for OxyContin Victims who were Prescribed the Medication

Unfortunately, OxyContin has become a popular drug sold on the streets. In fact, there have been numerous pharmacies have been robbed for OxyContin. However, at this time legal consultations are only available to those who became addicted to OxyContin after the drug was prescribed to them by a doctor.
Free Lawsuit Consultation

If you or a loved one has suffered due to an Oxycontin addiction you may have valuable legal rights. Please complete the inquiry form by clicking on picture below to have your case further reviewed.





In All, it's Almost Impossible to Detox off this Potent Opiate Narcotic. But don't worry help is on the way. Painlessly and Passionately. You will be compensated, if this Medication was Prescribed to you. So go ahead with the Rapid Opiate Detox by clicking Lindsay Lohans picture below for more information.

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Hernia Mesh Patch Recall

Was a Mesh Hernia Patch used in your Hernia surgery?

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and Devol, Inc., a subsidiary of C.R. Bard initiated a recall on December 5th 2005 for its Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Large Oval and Large Circle Patch which were designed to treat ventricle hernias.

The patch is inserted through a small incision and is placed behind the hernia. A "memory recoil ring" is used to keep the patch closed until after it has been inserted in the body.

The purpose of the patch is to prevent the hernia from pushing through weakened tissue walls, specifically in cases when stomach muscles are too weak for surgery to repair the hernia. However, the "memory recoil ring" can break under the stress of placement in the body, resulting in bowel perforations and chronic intestinal fistulae.

Some of them are, but not limited to;
• Tenderness at the implant area

• Unexplained pain

• Redness at the implanted area

• Fever

• Any unusual symptoms

If you or a loved one have experienced problems with the implanted Bard Composix Kugel Mesh Hernia Patch, which may consist of bowel perforations and chronic intestinal fistulae, please contact an attorney.

Careers and Professionals Most Affected by Opiate Dependency

Sales Professionals and Business Operations Personnel Most Often Seek Treatment for Dependency to Prescription Painkillers.

According to The Waismann Institute's Opiate Dependency Report, patients seeking treatment for dependency to prescription painkillers most often held careers in sales, at 15 percent. Those responsible for business operations, such as company CEOs or business owners, held the second spot with 11 percent of patients responding. The findings, which include results from 20 career categories, are based on a survey conducted of patients receiving treatment for dependencies to various opiate-based drugs.

"Both sales professionals and those responsible for business management have extremely demanding workloads resulting from long hours and meeting strict quotas," said Clare W. Kavin, executive director of The Waismann Institute. "Therefore, many of these professionals will seek relief from headaches and other stress-related ailments through prescription painkillers. Unfortunately, many don't realize that a dependency to opiate-based painkillers such as Vicodin ® and OxyContin ® can develop quickly with regular use."

Of respondents that held careers in sales, only 29 percent said that their employers noticed they had an opiate dependency. Only 23 percent indicated that they experienced problems at work.

"It is common for business professionals to successfully maintain dependency, career and family without missing a step," explained Waismann. "They often refer to themselves as 'functioning addicts,' because their drive and success masks the dependency they battle everyday."

Additional findings include:

* When asked how their dependencies began, 73 percent of respondents with positions in sales and business operations said their dependencies began with doctor-prescribed medication

* Twenty-two percent of sales personnel and business managers said that they visited multiple doctors to acquire prescriptions for medication

* Fifty-five percent of respondents with careers in sales or business management said they felt they had been dependent for over three years

* Eighty-eight percent of respondents with sales or business development roles said they were self-motivated to seek treatment

* The most common drug dependency for sales and management professionals was to Vicodin ® at 55 percent. OxyContin ® was the second most prevalent opiate dependency, claimed at 35 percent

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Women Seeking Anesthesia-Assisted Detoxification for Painkiller Dependency on the Rise

The percentage of female patients seeking treatment for opiates, which includes Vicodin ®, OxyContin ®, Lortab ®, Norco ®, Percocet ® and Suboxone ®, rose 12 percent in the past year. Seventy percent of female respondents confirmed that their dependencies began after taking legitimate doctor-prescribed medication. Oxycontin ® and Vicodin ® remained the most commonly abused opiates for the third year in a row and Suboxone dependency is also on the rise, according U.S.A. Today Newspaper.

“We are seeing an increase in female patients seeking treatment for dependency to painkillers, and our statistics show these patients are wives and mothers that unwittingly developed a physical dependency to painkillers after seeking assistance from their doctors for pain,” said Bernstein. “The increase doesn’t come as a surprise as these potent pills are prescribed for anything from back pain to migraines headaches. In these cases, the prescribing physicians need to educate patients about the dangers of opiate dependence. In turn, patients need to ask themselves if their pain warrants the use of prescription medication or if an over-the-counter pill would provide adequate relief.

”Because their dependencies are often a physical reaction to the prolonged use of opiates, a medical treatment that is going to remove that reliance and allow them to begin anew without opiates in their system is an appropriate last step, explained Bernstein.

“Anesthesia-assisted detoxification cleanses the opiates from the body and reduces the cravings, allowing these women to return to their normal lives in a short time,” he said.

Additional findings of Opiate Dependency Survey include:

* An overwhelming number of women, at 92 percent, said that the directions for taking the opiates were clear and easy to understand, but only 38 percent indicated that their doctors enforced those directions.
* Fifty-five percent of women who answered the survey received prescriptions from only one doctor, while 31 percent sought treatment from multiple doctors.
* For 50 percent of female respondents, withdrawal symptoms were the number one reason they were not able to stop taking the drug without help.
* Thirty-one percent of women obtained prescription medication by ordering over the Internet.
* Of female respondents, 52 percent were married at the time of treatment, and 64 percent had children.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Opiate Dependency Report

Buprenorphine May Cause Physical Dependency

Almost Three-Quarters of Patient Respondents Say They Could Not Stop Taking New "Miracle" Drug Without Assistance

The Las Vegas V.I.P. Team, a world-renowned opiate dependency treatment, released findings of its 30-Second Buprenorphine Dependency Survey, which showed that almost three-quarters (70 percent) of respondents taking Buprenorphine in order to cease their narcotic dependency found themselves dependent on the drug and needing assistance to stop taking it. The survey was conducted in response to recent reports touting Buprenorphine as an effective treatment for dependency to prescription painkillers and illegal drugs such as heroin. Dr. Thomas Yee, medical director and board certified by the American Society of Addiction Specialists to dispense Buprenorphine as a treatment for opiate dependency, says he has seen a recent increase in patients seeking treatment for Buprenorphine, a drug that was originally prescribed to help them.

“Buprenorphine is being sold as a miracle cure that will put an end to opiate dependency, and it has been embraced as a social cure for reducing crime and preventing the spread of disease,” said Bernstein. “Although it doesn’t carry the negative stigma associated with visiting a methadone clinic, the survey shows the people who take Buprenorphine run the risk of developing a physical dependency. Patients need to be educated that it’s a replacement therapy which is half opiate in composition.”

Results from the survey also indicated that 53 percent of those dependent on the drug were told by their doctors that Buprenorphine would cure their opiate dependency. In addition, 50 percent of respondents were never told they could develop a physical dependency.

Doctors are required to become certified to dispense Buprenorphine for opiate dependency treatment but may not educate their patients on the potential for dependency. As a result, many patients are given false hope that their physical dependency on opiates will end.

“When OxyContin first came out, it was marketed to patients as a treatment for pain that would replace their Vicodin dependencies, but it was only a matter of time before they became physically hooked on OxyContin itself. Likewise, patients taking Buprenorphine may at first believe they will be free from their dependency, but ultimately will realize it is simply another opiate replacement,” said Thomas Yee.

Buprenorphine, currently sold under the brand names Suboxone ® and Subutex ®, is a painkiller composed of 50 percent opiate, which has been used to treat dependency in Europe for years and is now becoming more widely prescribed in the U.S. Since Buprenorphine can be prescribed in pill form in the privacy of a doctor’s office, patients don’t feel the same stigma attached to standing in line at a methadone clinic. Board certified doctors and medical practitioners who undergo an eight-hour training class are permitted to prescribe the drug for opiate dependency, but are limited by the federal government to treat only a total of 30 patients at a time.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Suboxone Report

Rapid Detox Las Vegas Team Survey Reveals Dependency Risk for People Using Suboxone

Web Survey Indicates Sixty-Six Percent of Respondents Using Suboxone for Treatment of Opiate Dependency Became Hooked.

Today announced findings from an online survey of Suboxone users, indicating that 66 percent of individuals currently taking Suboxone ®, also known as Subutex ® or Buprenorphine, believe they cannot stop taking the drug without assistance, indicating a physical dependency. Suboxone ® is often prescribed to treat dependency to opiates including OxyContin ®, Vicodin ®, Lortab ® or Fentanyl. Because Suboxone is 50 percent opiate in composition, it helps alleviate painful withdrawal symptoms caused by the original opiate, but still remains a replacement therapy that substitutes one opiate-based drug with another.

“Patients are under the misconception that because this drug is prescribed by their doctors that it is a cure for their physical dependency to opiates”

“Doctors need to be honest with their patients, letting them know that Suboxone will not eliminate their dependency to opiates and actually can be habit forming. In addition, regulation of drug marketing needs to be tougher, so that people know exactly what to expect.”

Other key findings from the survey include:

* Forty-seven percent of respondents said they weren’t told by their doctors that they could develop a physical dependency to Suboxone ®
* Fifty percent of respondents were told by their doctors that Suboxone ® is a cure for opiate dependency
* Forty-nine percent said they have tried without success to stop taking Suboxone ®
* Thirty-seven percent reported being addicted to OxyContin ® when they were prescribed Suboxone ®

“We are treating alarming numbers of people suffering dependencies to Suboxone ®, who assumed they were treating one dependency and ended up developing a new one”

“Rather than write prescriptions, the addiction community should direct their efforts towards helping patients understand that relapse is not part of recovery.

In addition, the antiquated notion that addiction is an incurable disease and belief that 'once an addict, always an addict,' needs to be dispelled. Patients are tired of being hostages of a belief that they must be eternally dependent on treatments and maintenance drugs. We must stop applying judgment, and start offering an effective solution that will keep them from returning to the treatment centers time after time.”

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Man robs Provo pharmacy or oxycotin

An unidentified man used a note to rob a Provo pharmacy of oxycontin, Tuesday.

The man entered Edgemont Pharmacy on Canyon Road just before 1:40 p.m., wearing a faded, tan Carhart-style jacket and a gray and green striped knit beanie.

The suspect was described as a white male, age 20-30, 5-foot-11 and approximately 190 pounds.

The thief had light-colored facial hair and was seen with a medium-sized bandage on the side of his face.

The pharmacy was not equipped with video surveillance equipment.

The adult male walked around the pharmacy asking one of the employees about items they sell.

The suspect waited until everyone else had left the business before approaching the pharmacy counter. He then handed a note over to the pharmacist.

The note demanded oxycontin and stated that if the pharmacist did not cooperate, someone would be shot, according to a press release.

The pharmacist then gave the suspect an undisclosed amount of oxycontin. The suspect then took back the note along with the oxycontin and left. He was last seen traveling northeast on foot.

Although no weapon was visible, the offense is considered armed robbery because of Utah Legislative law 76-6-302. The law states aggravated robbery has occurred if in the course of committing robbery a dangerous weapon is used or threatened to be used.

"It's considered aggravated robbery even if no one sees a weapon," said Officer Tyler Nisonger of the Provo City Police Department.

"Oxycontin is a pain reliever for chronic pain," said Craig Swenson, a pharmacist at the BYU Student Health Clinic.

"These people will crush it up and inject it to get one big rush," said Swenson, when asked why oxycontin is such a popular street drug.

Many pharmacies no longer carry oxycontin on a regular basis and only stock it when special orders come in for the drug. Even then, many pharmacies only have oxycontin in their possession for a short time.

"There is a sign on our door that says we don't carry oxycontin," said Natalie Cartchner, an intern at the pharmacy. "If people call in we will have the order [of oxycontin] ready for them."

Anyone with information on pharmacy thefts is asked to contact Provo City Police Dispatch at (801) 852-6210.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.

Myrtle Beach man charged in December CVS robbery

A Myrtle Beach man has been charged with armed robbery of the CVS Pharmacy in Murrells Inlet on Dec.9, according to a news release from Sgt. Neil Johnson with the Georgetown County Sheriff's Office.

Dustin Thomas Wicker, 25, was charged today by the Sheriff's Office and currently is being held at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center for charges in Horry County, Johnson stated.

Wicker is responsible for robbing the CVS of narcotics Dec.9 when he approached the pharmacy counter demanding Oxycontin and Roxicodone by a note handed to the pharmacist. He did not display any type of weapon but did make threats to use a weapon if his demands were not met, Johnson previously stated.

The pharmacist then gave Wicker Oxycontin and he fled from the store just before telling the pharmacist to stand by the window so his partner could keep an eye on him while he exited the store.

Police wrap up Oxycontin network

OCEAN CITY — Police announced today the arrests of four Delmarva men whom they say participated in a scheme spanning several states to sell oxycodone pills, also known as Oxycontin.

Arrested were Gene Sams, 38, of Ocean City; Brian West, 27, of Salisbury; Tyler Hays, 22, of Ocean City; and John Tarr, 28, of Fenwick Island. All were charged with offenses relating to the possession and/or distribution of oxycodone.

The arrests stem from the indictment and arrest of a New Jersey man, Joseph Bimonte, 45, who was the main target of an OCPD investigation that began in April 2007, police said.

The Drug Enforcement Agency collaborated with Ocean City police in the investigation.

Police said 600 pills, worth some $20,000, were seized in the investigation.

Call us today to discuss how the V.I.P. Way can free you from your Vicodin dependency and get your life back.

Call today: (800)276-7021 or (702)308-6353

Email: info@rapiddetoxlasvegas.com

Medical Director: Board-Certified by American Board of Anesthesiology 1994, former chief of cardiac anesthesia, University of Nevada School of Medicine.

Board-Certified by American Board of Pain Medicine 1997, Clinical Assistant Professor University Nevada School of Medicine.