Truth about Suboxone
While suboxone has opened a new frontier of treatment for opiate addiction, it also threatens to split the recovering and treatment communities along opposing
battle lines. Such and outcome would be a huge missed opportunity to improve the lives of opiate addicts.
The downside of suboxone:
Practitioners in traditional AODA treatment programs will see suboxone as at best a mixed blessing. Desperation is often required to open the addict’s mind to change, and desperation is harder to achieve when an addict has the option to leave treatment and find a practitioner who will prescribe suboxone. Suboxone is sometimes used ‘on the street’ by addicts who want to take time off from addiction without committing to long term sobriety. Suboxone itself can be abused for short periods of time, until tolerance develops to the drug. Snorting suboxone reportedly results in a faster time of onset, without allowing the absorption of the naloxone that prevents intravenous use. Finally, the remission model of suboxone use implies long term use of the drug. Chronic use of any opiate, including suboxone, has the potential for negative effects on testosterone levels and sexual function, and the use of suboxone is complicated when surgery is necessary. Short- or moderate-term use of suboxone raises a host of additional questions, including how to convert from drug-induced remission, without desperation, to sober recovery, which often requires desperation.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Truth about Methadone
Truth about Methadone
Drug addictions, like cancer, are terrifying conditions to the victims because of the feelings of hopelessness and abandonment generated by the rigors of and general failure of the orthodox “treatments.”
Although crude opium addiction has a very long history, the large-scale addictive use of morphine salts, in this country, is generally dated from their use on wounded Civil War soldiers. Following 1864, morphine addiction was realized to be an emerging socially significant problem in this country; therefore searches were instituted to find less addicting drugs. The year 1890 saw the introduction of heroin. For about five more decades, to the year 1912, nothing was done to stop the rising tide of morphine and heroin users in this country. The realization of that fact prompted in that year the organizing of legal opiate clinics, not however to treat the addict, only to support the user’s habit in an attempt to stem the rising crime rate and sales of black market drugs. These legal opiate clinics remained open until 1924 when they were closed down as dismal failures. It took until the mid-1950’s, another fallow period of about 30 years, before another major attempt started, the Methadone Program, which has continued up to the present. This program embraces the concept of orally giving a legally addicting drug (methadone) in place of an illegal addicting drug (heroin).
The lack of success in handling drug addiction, until now, is due to placing the emphasis on the legal aspects of the problem, mainly that of the crime and punishment concept, and ignoring the mental and physical condition of the addicts and neglecting to treat the health and metabolic problems of the victims. Drug addicts suffer from severe metabolic dysfunctions and are very sick people. Any attempted solution to the drug addiction problem which fails to bring total health back to the addict is doomed to failure.
Drug addictions, like cancer, are terrifying conditions to the victims because of the feelings of hopelessness and abandonment generated by the rigors of and general failure of the orthodox “treatments.”
Although crude opium addiction has a very long history, the large-scale addictive use of morphine salts, in this country, is generally dated from their use on wounded Civil War soldiers. Following 1864, morphine addiction was realized to be an emerging socially significant problem in this country; therefore searches were instituted to find less addicting drugs. The year 1890 saw the introduction of heroin. For about five more decades, to the year 1912, nothing was done to stop the rising tide of morphine and heroin users in this country. The realization of that fact prompted in that year the organizing of legal opiate clinics, not however to treat the addict, only to support the user’s habit in an attempt to stem the rising crime rate and sales of black market drugs. These legal opiate clinics remained open until 1924 when they were closed down as dismal failures. It took until the mid-1950’s, another fallow period of about 30 years, before another major attempt started, the Methadone Program, which has continued up to the present. This program embraces the concept of orally giving a legally addicting drug (methadone) in place of an illegal addicting drug (heroin).
The lack of success in handling drug addiction, until now, is due to placing the emphasis on the legal aspects of the problem, mainly that of the crime and punishment concept, and ignoring the mental and physical condition of the addicts and neglecting to treat the health and metabolic problems of the victims. Drug addicts suffer from severe metabolic dysfunctions and are very sick people. Any attempted solution to the drug addiction problem which fails to bring total health back to the addict is doomed to failure.
Burglars strike Enid pharmacy
Enid police are investigating another burglary at an Enid pharmacy in which painkillers and other prescription drugs were stolen.
Police received a report Tuesday morning of a burglary to Family Pharmacy, 915 E. Garriott, that occurred sometime between 6 p.m. Monday and 7:28 a.m. Tuesday.
According to police, the suspect shattered the south door on the building, gaining access to the “common area” of Enid Health Center. Once inside the common area, the suspect shattered a window on the east side of Family Pharmacy. Once inside the pharmacy the suspect stole a large amount of Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and Zanex.
“The business is still conducting a complete inventory to determine exactly what was stolen,” Enid Police De-partment Capt. Dean Gras-sino said.
Police have made no arrests and there are no suspects.
A similar burglary oc-curred Dec. 7 at Evan’s Pharmacy, 110 N. Oakwood, when six boxes of Fentanyl patches and a bottle of Oxycodone, both commonly abused prescription pain killers, were reported missing.
Anyone having information that will lead to an arrest or prosecution is asked to call Garfield County Crime Stoppers at 233-6233 or Enid Police Department at 242-7000. Callers can earn up to a $1,000 reward and will not be required to testify or be identified.
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Police received a report Tuesday morning of a burglary to Family Pharmacy, 915 E. Garriott, that occurred sometime between 6 p.m. Monday and 7:28 a.m. Tuesday.
According to police, the suspect shattered the south door on the building, gaining access to the “common area” of Enid Health Center. Once inside the common area, the suspect shattered a window on the east side of Family Pharmacy. Once inside the pharmacy the suspect stole a large amount of Oxycontin, Hydrocodone and Zanex.
“The business is still conducting a complete inventory to determine exactly what was stolen,” Enid Police De-partment Capt. Dean Gras-sino said.
Police have made no arrests and there are no suspects.
A similar burglary oc-curred Dec. 7 at Evan’s Pharmacy, 110 N. Oakwood, when six boxes of Fentanyl patches and a bottle of Oxycodone, both commonly abused prescription pain killers, were reported missing.
Anyone having information that will lead to an arrest or prosecution is asked to call Garfield County Crime Stoppers at 233-6233 or Enid Police Department at 242-7000. Callers can earn up to a $1,000 reward and will not be required to testify or be identified.
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Critics hit Army's treatment of drug abuse
Spec. Jeremiah Thomson didn't know what was worse: excruciating back pain from a combat explosion in Baghdad or the prescription drug addiction he developed trying to ease the suffering once home.
The Army was quick to prescribe Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and similarly powerful painkillers to Thomson and other injured soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, Thomson testified in a court-martial hearing. He's now serving a three-year sentence for illegally buying prescription drugs — the sellers included a former commanding officer in Iraq — and selling the pills to eight other soldiers.
As more troops return home with war injuries, the Army is prescribing more pain medication to treat those wounds. But a military system that relies on discipline as well as treatment is drawing fire from some prominent critics, including those inside the system.
"It's a terrible problem," said Barbara McDonald, a civilian social worker and Army drug abuse counselor, describing a recent surge in prescription drug abuse and the Army's handling of the problem.
Legal painkiller use by injured troops has increased nearly 70 percent since the start of the Iraq war six years ago, according to Army records. Surveys show that more soldiers are struggling with prescription drug addiction — and seeking help from Army doctors and counselors.
Thomson is among seven soldiers convicted by court martial in 2008 of illegal drug use or distribution who served in the installation's 5th Engineer Battalion. The unit supports combat troops by building and guarding roads and bridges and repairing vehicles. An additional five await trial on similar charges. A dozen have been kicked out of the Army and two others went AWOL after being implicated in the investigation.
Dr. Les McFarling, who heads the Army's substance abuse treatment program, acknowledges the increased potential for abuse.
"You can put soldiers at risk when you're managing their pain," he said.
But McDonald and other critics call the military's approach a broken system, as likely to punish or denigrate troops as to treat their addictions.
The criminal cases in Missouri, coupled with allegations of misconduct and staffing shortages in the Army Substance Abuse Program levied by McDonald and another whistleblower, caught the attention of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She has asked Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to investigate.
"Clearly, at Fort Leonard Wood and potentially across the military, they have not prioritized this as a health issue," McCaskill said. "The culture has traditionally looked at this as a discipline issue."
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such punishments can include reductions in rank and pay, imprisonment and discharges from military service for bad conduct.
The Army says those disciplined in the Fort Leonard Wood investigation committed criminal misconduct by selling or illegally possessing drugs, as opposed to those who become dependent on narcotics prescribed for legitimate injuries.
"A soldier who steps forward is someone who should be admired, not as someone with a black mark next to their name," McCaskill said.
In a Dec. 22 response to McCaskill's inquiry, Geren indicated the Army will consider abolishing its policy that a commanding officer be notified when a soldier comes forward voluntarily for ASAP counseling.
Still, officials at Fort Leonard Wood and the Pentagon defend their approach, even as they acknowledge staffing shortages that have left ASAP nationwide nearly 90 counselors short of required employment levels. Staffing levels at the Missouri post are now above the required minimums, the Army says.
McDonald disputes that, saying at least one recently hired counselor for Fort Leonard Wood's ASAP unit lacks required mental health certification. Army officials did not respond to a request for comment on her assertion.
Army statistics provided to The Associated Press show that the number of soldiers enrolled in ASAP at Fort Leonard Wood at the end of 2008 was the highest since the start of the Iraq war six years ago.
McCaskill's office learned of the problems at Fort Leonard Wood from former ASAP counselor John Speckhals, a Vietnam veteran and former Veterans Administration social worker now stationed in Germany. Speckhals declined an AP request for an interview.
An inquiry by the senator's office said as many as 180 cases referred to the base's ASAP unit were misclassified in what McCaskill suggested in a Nov. 12 letter to Geren were "deliberate clinical findings that soldiers who were dependent on alcohol or drugs were not dependent in order to keep the caseload down for an overwhelmed staff."
"There was an effort to give a cosmetic fix to a problem that was systemic," McCaskill said in an interview.
In his letter to McCaskill, Geren said a review of those cases and 17 others showed some record-keeping errors, but no evidence that cases were deliberately mislabeled.
"Virtually all soldiers were offered some further assistance or referral," Geren wrote.
McDonald, whose son is a soldier, spent 20 years as a civilian substance abuse counselor before joining the Army's fight against drug and alcohol abuse one year ago. She has filed a workplace complaint against her supervisor and faces disciplinary action she says stems from her criticisms. Army officials have not commented.
McDonald claims that some Army doctors and counselors point to drug dependency as a sign of weakness. Since McDonald's complaints surfaced, she is no longer allowed to see patients.
Lori Mullins of Idaho Falls, Idaho, said her 18-year-old daughter, Destiny, was told McDonald had quit and that McDonald was told Destiny Mullins no longer wanted treatment.
"They told (Destiny) she didn't belong in the military, that she was a shame to the uniform," the elder Mullins said. "Instead of being protected by the Army, they're blaming her for it."
Destiny Mullins received an honorable discharge in November.
Chuck Ashbrook, who oversees ASAP prevention and education efforts at Leonard Wood, maintained that counselors pay close attention to links between substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and combat injuries.
He said that, thanks to medical advances, soldiers who might have returned from previous conflicts as casualties are instead surviving with injuries that may require stronger pain management.
However, Ashbrook also noted historical increases in drug dependency among soldiers during wartime.
"We've always seen these kind of problems," he said. "This is not unique."
Thomson, a tank mechanic whose father and both grandfathers were enlisted men, said he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after being injured from repeated blasts of improvised explosive devices while deployed in Iraq in 2006.
The pain left him bedridden and short of breath, he testified at his trial in April. But nothing prepared him for the withdrawal after his supply of painkillers ran out.
"I had sweats, cold sweats, shakes, vomiting, nausea (and) extreme pain where it was even worse than before I had ever taken the medication," he said.
Asked by a military prosecutor if commanding officers had referred him to the ASAP unit, Thomson said no, even after testing positive for cocaine use while in treatment. He wasn't even aware the unit existed until a friend was sent, he said.
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The Army was quick to prescribe Percocet, Vicodin, Oxycontin and similarly powerful painkillers to Thomson and other injured soldiers at Fort Leonard Wood, Thomson testified in a court-martial hearing. He's now serving a three-year sentence for illegally buying prescription drugs — the sellers included a former commanding officer in Iraq — and selling the pills to eight other soldiers.
As more troops return home with war injuries, the Army is prescribing more pain medication to treat those wounds. But a military system that relies on discipline as well as treatment is drawing fire from some prominent critics, including those inside the system.
"It's a terrible problem," said Barbara McDonald, a civilian social worker and Army drug abuse counselor, describing a recent surge in prescription drug abuse and the Army's handling of the problem.
Legal painkiller use by injured troops has increased nearly 70 percent since the start of the Iraq war six years ago, according to Army records. Surveys show that more soldiers are struggling with prescription drug addiction — and seeking help from Army doctors and counselors.
Thomson is among seven soldiers convicted by court martial in 2008 of illegal drug use or distribution who served in the installation's 5th Engineer Battalion. The unit supports combat troops by building and guarding roads and bridges and repairing vehicles. An additional five await trial on similar charges. A dozen have been kicked out of the Army and two others went AWOL after being implicated in the investigation.
Dr. Les McFarling, who heads the Army's substance abuse treatment program, acknowledges the increased potential for abuse.
"You can put soldiers at risk when you're managing their pain," he said.
But McDonald and other critics call the military's approach a broken system, as likely to punish or denigrate troops as to treat their addictions.
The criminal cases in Missouri, coupled with allegations of misconduct and staffing shortages in the Army Substance Abuse Program levied by McDonald and another whistleblower, caught the attention of Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. She has asked Secretary of the Army Pete Geren to investigate.
"Clearly, at Fort Leonard Wood and potentially across the military, they have not prioritized this as a health issue," McCaskill said. "The culture has traditionally looked at this as a discipline issue."
Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, such punishments can include reductions in rank and pay, imprisonment and discharges from military service for bad conduct.
The Army says those disciplined in the Fort Leonard Wood investigation committed criminal misconduct by selling or illegally possessing drugs, as opposed to those who become dependent on narcotics prescribed for legitimate injuries.
"A soldier who steps forward is someone who should be admired, not as someone with a black mark next to their name," McCaskill said.
In a Dec. 22 response to McCaskill's inquiry, Geren indicated the Army will consider abolishing its policy that a commanding officer be notified when a soldier comes forward voluntarily for ASAP counseling.
Still, officials at Fort Leonard Wood and the Pentagon defend their approach, even as they acknowledge staffing shortages that have left ASAP nationwide nearly 90 counselors short of required employment levels. Staffing levels at the Missouri post are now above the required minimums, the Army says.
McDonald disputes that, saying at least one recently hired counselor for Fort Leonard Wood's ASAP unit lacks required mental health certification. Army officials did not respond to a request for comment on her assertion.
Army statistics provided to The Associated Press show that the number of soldiers enrolled in ASAP at Fort Leonard Wood at the end of 2008 was the highest since the start of the Iraq war six years ago.
McCaskill's office learned of the problems at Fort Leonard Wood from former ASAP counselor John Speckhals, a Vietnam veteran and former Veterans Administration social worker now stationed in Germany. Speckhals declined an AP request for an interview.
An inquiry by the senator's office said as many as 180 cases referred to the base's ASAP unit were misclassified in what McCaskill suggested in a Nov. 12 letter to Geren were "deliberate clinical findings that soldiers who were dependent on alcohol or drugs were not dependent in order to keep the caseload down for an overwhelmed staff."
"There was an effort to give a cosmetic fix to a problem that was systemic," McCaskill said in an interview.
In his letter to McCaskill, Geren said a review of those cases and 17 others showed some record-keeping errors, but no evidence that cases were deliberately mislabeled.
"Virtually all soldiers were offered some further assistance or referral," Geren wrote.
McDonald, whose son is a soldier, spent 20 years as a civilian substance abuse counselor before joining the Army's fight against drug and alcohol abuse one year ago. She has filed a workplace complaint against her supervisor and faces disciplinary action she says stems from her criticisms. Army officials have not commented.
McDonald claims that some Army doctors and counselors point to drug dependency as a sign of weakness. Since McDonald's complaints surfaced, she is no longer allowed to see patients.
Lori Mullins of Idaho Falls, Idaho, said her 18-year-old daughter, Destiny, was told McDonald had quit and that McDonald was told Destiny Mullins no longer wanted treatment.
"They told (Destiny) she didn't belong in the military, that she was a shame to the uniform," the elder Mullins said. "Instead of being protected by the Army, they're blaming her for it."
Destiny Mullins received an honorable discharge in November.
Chuck Ashbrook, who oversees ASAP prevention and education efforts at Leonard Wood, maintained that counselors pay close attention to links between substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder and combat injuries.
He said that, thanks to medical advances, soldiers who might have returned from previous conflicts as casualties are instead surviving with injuries that may require stronger pain management.
However, Ashbrook also noted historical increases in drug dependency among soldiers during wartime.
"We've always seen these kind of problems," he said. "This is not unique."
Thomson, a tank mechanic whose father and both grandfathers were enlisted men, said he was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease after being injured from repeated blasts of improvised explosive devices while deployed in Iraq in 2006.
The pain left him bedridden and short of breath, he testified at his trial in April. But nothing prepared him for the withdrawal after his supply of painkillers ran out.
"I had sweats, cold sweats, shakes, vomiting, nausea (and) extreme pain where it was even worse than before I had ever taken the medication," he said.
Asked by a military prosecutor if commanding officers had referred him to the ASAP unit, Thomson said no, even after testing positive for cocaine use while in treatment. He wasn't even aware the unit existed until a friend was sent, he said.
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10 Careers that Top $30 per Hour
In just 60 minutes, you could earn enough to pay for a tank of gas, the cable bill, gym membership, or dinner out. Thirty dollars still covers some of life's essential costs. Earn that much in just one hour on the job, and you have enough to build a comfortable life.
The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures put the median household income in the U.S. at $50,233. A $30-per-hour job brings in $62,400 before taxes, or 20% more than the national median. For many people, this extra margin is just one promotion or one credential away. To boost your economic security, consider these 10 careers with salary data as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Database Administrator
Mean Hourly Wage: $33.78
Salary: $70,260
Database administrators perform a vital role in our information economy, managing the database systems that help companies store, process, and access data effectively. Job growth is stunning in this high-demand field as well -- the profession is expected to grow 37 percent through 2016. Continuing education is a must to keep up with evolving technology, but entry requirements are modest. You can launch this $30-plus-an-hour career with an associate's degree in database administration or information technology.
Registered Nurse
Mean Hourly Wage: $30.04
Salary: $62,480
Historic demand for registered nurses is inspiring many people to reinvent themselves as health care practitioners. Nursing is projected to generate more new jobs than any other profession -- an estimated 587,000 positions through 2016, which represents a 23% increase in a decade. To take advantage of this boom, head to nursing school for your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Accelerated programs are available for career changers who already have a bachelor degree in another field.
Technical Writer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.18
Salary: $62,780
Technical writers interpret engineering and scientific information for a lay audience, producing product documentation, user manuals, project proposals, and scientific reports. Most writers come to the field with a college bachelor's degree in a communications or liberal arts field. Some colleges offer specialized certificate programs in technical communication, which incorporate IT literacy training.
Fashion Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $34.22
Salary: $71,170
Fashion design has the reputation as an all-or-nothing labor of love -- you begin as a starving artist and ultimately attain celebrity stature designing haute couture. In fact, the majority of fashion designers -- 3 in 4 designers -- work secure, salaried jobs for apparel manufacturers. What these artists give up in suffering and glamour they make up for in a solid and stable paycheck. A job as a salaried fashion designer starts with an associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion design.
Accountant
Median Hourly Wage: $30.11
Salary: $62,640
Accountants should have no trouble finding work as businesses throughout the economy sort through the financial rubble of the credit crisis. Mounting federal regulation will also contribute to demand for trained accountants. Accountants working for accounting and bookkeeping services earn upwards of $30 per hour. These employers hire trained professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
Environmental Scientist
Median Hourly Wage: $30.71
Salary: $63,870
Environmental scientists will be the heroes of the coming era, developing much-needed strategies to redress environmental damage to soil, water, and air. The field is expected to grow 25% in response to new federal regulations and funding, as well as private investment. A bachelor's degree in earth sciences will get you started in this fascinating and important field. Many scientists go on to a master's degree to secure the best opportunities.
K-12 Curriculum Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.87
Salary: $64,220
Curriculum designers are at the forefront of educational research, developing new instructional materials and strategies to improve the quality of education in our nation's schools. The job typically calls for a graduate-level degree in the field, such as a master's degree in education (M.Ed.).
Dental Hygienist
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.21
Salary: $64,910
To make about the same amount of money with a two-year associate's degree, enroll in a dental hygiene program. Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to promote oral health and hygiene. Hygienists enjoy distinction as one of the nation's fastest growing occupations, with 30% growth expected through 2016.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Median Hourly Wage: $30.05
Salary: $62,500
Solving crimes is all in a day's work for these criminal justice professionals. Criminal investigators can build their skill set by completing an associate's degree in criminal justice, where they take courses in crime scene investigation, criminal investigation procedures, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates job opportunities as "excellent."
Television Producer
Median Hourly Wage: $31.66
Salary: $65,850
Producers coordinate the television features we enjoy, from sitcoms to dramas to the nightly news. To build the necessary skill set, producers enter the field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in mass communications or broadcast media.
A tight economy hasn't stopped employers in these ten fields from hiring qualified grads. With the right degree, you can upgrade your career and find job security in the form of a $30-an-hour paycheck.
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The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures put the median household income in the U.S. at $50,233. A $30-per-hour job brings in $62,400 before taxes, or 20% more than the national median. For many people, this extra margin is just one promotion or one credential away. To boost your economic security, consider these 10 careers with salary data as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Database Administrator
Mean Hourly Wage: $33.78
Salary: $70,260
Database administrators perform a vital role in our information economy, managing the database systems that help companies store, process, and access data effectively. Job growth is stunning in this high-demand field as well -- the profession is expected to grow 37 percent through 2016. Continuing education is a must to keep up with evolving technology, but entry requirements are modest. You can launch this $30-plus-an-hour career with an associate's degree in database administration or information technology.
Registered Nurse
Mean Hourly Wage: $30.04
Salary: $62,480
Historic demand for registered nurses is inspiring many people to reinvent themselves as health care practitioners. Nursing is projected to generate more new jobs than any other profession -- an estimated 587,000 positions through 2016, which represents a 23% increase in a decade. To take advantage of this boom, head to nursing school for your bachelor's degree in nursing (BSN). Accelerated programs are available for career changers who already have a bachelor degree in another field.
Technical Writer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.18
Salary: $62,780
Technical writers interpret engineering and scientific information for a lay audience, producing product documentation, user manuals, project proposals, and scientific reports. Most writers come to the field with a college bachelor's degree in a communications or liberal arts field. Some colleges offer specialized certificate programs in technical communication, which incorporate IT literacy training.
Fashion Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $34.22
Salary: $71,170
Fashion design has the reputation as an all-or-nothing labor of love -- you begin as a starving artist and ultimately attain celebrity stature designing haute couture. In fact, the majority of fashion designers -- 3 in 4 designers -- work secure, salaried jobs for apparel manufacturers. What these artists give up in suffering and glamour they make up for in a solid and stable paycheck. A job as a salaried fashion designer starts with an associate's or bachelor's degree in fashion design.
Accountant
Median Hourly Wage: $30.11
Salary: $62,640
Accountants should have no trouble finding work as businesses throughout the economy sort through the financial rubble of the credit crisis. Mounting federal regulation will also contribute to demand for trained accountants. Accountants working for accounting and bookkeeping services earn upwards of $30 per hour. These employers hire trained professionals with a bachelor's degree in accounting or finance.
Environmental Scientist
Median Hourly Wage: $30.71
Salary: $63,870
Environmental scientists will be the heroes of the coming era, developing much-needed strategies to redress environmental damage to soil, water, and air. The field is expected to grow 25% in response to new federal regulations and funding, as well as private investment. A bachelor's degree in earth sciences will get you started in this fascinating and important field. Many scientists go on to a master's degree to secure the best opportunities.
K-12 Curriculum Designer
Median Hourly Wage: $30.87
Salary: $64,220
Curriculum designers are at the forefront of educational research, developing new instructional materials and strategies to improve the quality of education in our nation's schools. The job typically calls for a graduate-level degree in the field, such as a master's degree in education (M.Ed.).
Dental Hygienist
Mean Hourly Wage: $31.21
Salary: $64,910
To make about the same amount of money with a two-year associate's degree, enroll in a dental hygiene program. Dental hygienists work alongside dentists to promote oral health and hygiene. Hygienists enjoy distinction as one of the nation's fastest growing occupations, with 30% growth expected through 2016.
Detectives and Criminal Investigators
Median Hourly Wage: $30.05
Salary: $62,500
Solving crimes is all in a day's work for these criminal justice professionals. Criminal investigators can build their skill set by completing an associate's degree in criminal justice, where they take courses in crime scene investigation, criminal investigation procedures, and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics rates job opportunities as "excellent."
Television Producer
Median Hourly Wage: $31.66
Salary: $65,850
Producers coordinate the television features we enjoy, from sitcoms to dramas to the nightly news. To build the necessary skill set, producers enter the field with an associate's or bachelor's degree in mass communications or broadcast media.
A tight economy hasn't stopped employers in these ten fields from hiring qualified grads. With the right degree, you can upgrade your career and find job security in the form of a $30-an-hour paycheck.
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Sacramento's top jail doctor may have medical license suspended
State officials expect to find out Thursday whether the medical license for the Sacramento County Jail's top doctor will be suspended following his arrest last week on charges of writing unauthorized prescriptions for OxyContin.
The California Medical Board sought to suspend Dr. Peter Dietrich's medical license in a hearing today after saying in documents that "his actions threaten the safety of the public" and that there is evidence he wrote precriptions for thousands of OxyContin tablets for himself in the name of his ailing 88-year-old mother.
The administrative law judge hearing the matter took it under advisement.
"We hope to have an order by tomorrow," board spokeswoman Candis Cohen said.
Dietrich was arrested Jan. 14 and placed on paid leave from his job overseeing medical services at the jail. He was released from jail on $5,000 bail last week and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning, but that was postponed to Feb. 20.
He faces 24 charges related to the allegations, including 18 felony counts. Dietrich has declined to comment previously and could not be reached this morning. His cell phone is not accepting calls and he did not immediately respond to a message left at his Davis home.
Dietrich has had his license since August 1987 and has no previous record of discipline or wrongdoing.
As part of the effort to suspend him, officials submitted documents indicating that from July through December of last year Dietrich issued 70 prescriptions in the name of his mother, Margaret Dietrich.
OxyContin is a highly addictive opiate and officials got involved in the investigation of Dietrich after his mother's insurance company reported that more than one doctor was prescribing drugs to her.
Her primary care physician, Dr. Paul Riggle, had prescribed some generic Oxycodone to her at one point to help with pain she was suffering, but he became concerned when the insurance company provided information about the amounts of other prescriptions of OxyContin she was receiving, documents show.
Riggle called one of the pharmacies involved and was told that Dr. Dietrich had been prescribing the drug in his mother's name. "Dr Riggle was troubled by this because physicians do not normally prescribe narcotics to family members," the documents state.
Riggle confronted Dietrich in July, but Dietrich denied prescribing the medicine, documents state.
The next day, Riggle met with Dietrich and his wife and Dietrich admitted issuing the prescriptions, the documents state.
Riggle told Dietrich to stop prescribing the drugs to his mother, but documents state that after that Dietrich issued prescriptions for 3,170 OxyContin tablets.
Authorities believe Dietrich was issuing the prescriptions for his own use.
The California Medical Board sought to suspend Dr. Peter Dietrich's medical license in a hearing today after saying in documents that "his actions threaten the safety of the public" and that there is evidence he wrote precriptions for thousands of OxyContin tablets for himself in the name of his ailing 88-year-old mother.
The administrative law judge hearing the matter took it under advisement.
"We hope to have an order by tomorrow," board spokeswoman Candis Cohen said.
Dietrich was arrested Jan. 14 and placed on paid leave from his job overseeing medical services at the jail. He was released from jail on $5,000 bail last week and was scheduled to be arraigned this morning, but that was postponed to Feb. 20.
He faces 24 charges related to the allegations, including 18 felony counts. Dietrich has declined to comment previously and could not be reached this morning. His cell phone is not accepting calls and he did not immediately respond to a message left at his Davis home.
Dietrich has had his license since August 1987 and has no previous record of discipline or wrongdoing.
As part of the effort to suspend him, officials submitted documents indicating that from July through December of last year Dietrich issued 70 prescriptions in the name of his mother, Margaret Dietrich.
OxyContin is a highly addictive opiate and officials got involved in the investigation of Dietrich after his mother's insurance company reported that more than one doctor was prescribing drugs to her.
Her primary care physician, Dr. Paul Riggle, had prescribed some generic Oxycodone to her at one point to help with pain she was suffering, but he became concerned when the insurance company provided information about the amounts of other prescriptions of OxyContin she was receiving, documents show.
Riggle called one of the pharmacies involved and was told that Dr. Dietrich had been prescribing the drug in his mother's name. "Dr Riggle was troubled by this because physicians do not normally prescribe narcotics to family members," the documents state.
Riggle confronted Dietrich in July, but Dietrich denied prescribing the medicine, documents state.
The next day, Riggle met with Dietrich and his wife and Dietrich admitted issuing the prescriptions, the documents state.
Riggle told Dietrich to stop prescribing the drugs to his mother, but documents state that after that Dietrich issued prescriptions for 3,170 OxyContin tablets.
Authorities believe Dietrich was issuing the prescriptions for his own use.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
How Addiction Happens
How Addiction Happens:
Theories of addiction, including biological, psychological, social, developmental and moral approaches to understanding how addiction develops and continues to affect individuals over time.
What is an Addiction?
Clear, concise definition of addictions, including substance and behavioral addictions. Includes examples of addictive behaviors and defining characteristics of dependence.
Symptoms of Addiction:
Details symptoms experienced by addicts with dependencies and signs observed by concerned others.
Addiction Is a Brain Disease
Article on addiction from about.com's alcoholism guidesite.
Opiate Intoxication
Opiate intoxication article, from about.com's health topics A-Z.
A Selection of Theories on Addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) present a collection of theories of addiction.
Teens - Will I Become an Addict?
Read about the risk of addiction for teens, from about.com's Teen Advice guidesite.
Teens - Experimentation Or Addiction?
Teens are under more pressure than ever before to experiment with alcohol and drugs.
Read about the distinctions between experimentation and addiction, from about.com's
Teen Advice guidesite.
Teens - Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction
Article on the dark side of alcohol and drugs, from about.com's Teen Advice guidesite.
Patients - Will I Become Addicted to Pain Medication?
Read about the risks of becoming addicted to pain medication, from about.com's Orthopedics guidesite.
How the Movies Influenced American Drinking Culture
Historical paper by Addiction expert Robin Room, explaining how the movies influenced drinking culture in the early 20th century.
The Relationship Between Culture, Drugs and Unsafe Sex
Addictions expert Tim Rhodes explores the relationship between culture, drugs and unsafe sex.
http://addictions.about.com/od/howaddictionhappens/Theories_Of_How_Addiction_Develops_and_Is_Maintained.htm
Theories of addiction, including biological, psychological, social, developmental and moral approaches to understanding how addiction develops and continues to affect individuals over time.
What is an Addiction?
Clear, concise definition of addictions, including substance and behavioral addictions. Includes examples of addictive behaviors and defining characteristics of dependence.
Symptoms of Addiction:
Details symptoms experienced by addicts with dependencies and signs observed by concerned others.
Addiction Is a Brain Disease
Article on addiction from about.com's alcoholism guidesite.
Opiate Intoxication
Opiate intoxication article, from about.com's health topics A-Z.
A Selection of Theories on Addiction
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) present a collection of theories of addiction.
Teens - Will I Become an Addict?
Read about the risk of addiction for teens, from about.com's Teen Advice guidesite.
Teens - Experimentation Or Addiction?
Teens are under more pressure than ever before to experiment with alcohol and drugs.
Read about the distinctions between experimentation and addiction, from about.com's
Teen Advice guidesite.
Teens - Alcohol, Drugs and Addiction
Article on the dark side of alcohol and drugs, from about.com's Teen Advice guidesite.
Patients - Will I Become Addicted to Pain Medication?
Read about the risks of becoming addicted to pain medication, from about.com's Orthopedics guidesite.
How the Movies Influenced American Drinking Culture
Historical paper by Addiction expert Robin Room, explaining how the movies influenced drinking culture in the early 20th century.
The Relationship Between Culture, Drugs and Unsafe Sex
Addictions expert Tim Rhodes explores the relationship between culture, drugs and unsafe sex.
http://addictions.about.com/od/howaddictionhappens/Theories_Of_How_Addiction_Develops_and_Is_Maintained.htm
Teens Supply Of Oxycontin Busted
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. -- Narcotics officers say they have shut down a major supplier of prescription drugs to high school and young college students in South Cherokee County.
Three weeks ago the Cherokee Multi Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) received information that teenagers were being supplied and abusing the prescription pain killer OxyContin. During that investigation, a significant dealer of the drug was identified according to Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison.
On Friday, they served a search warrant at the home of 49-year old Marc Peyton. Investigators say they learned during the investigation that Peyton's home on Copperhead Road in Acworth was a place teens knew they could get the drug.
Sheriff Garrison said information from a number of undercover purchases of the drug pointed them to Peyton's home. "We think at times he may have been selling 150-pills a week, which is not huge, but it's certainly a major supplier for the region," Sheriff Garrison said.
Peyton and nine others were charged with various drug charges including possession and distribution:
-- Gregory Davis, 35, of Cartersville was charged with possession of a controlled substance and sale of OxyContin.
-- Larry Kines, 49, of Powder Springs was charged with possession of OxyContin with intent to distribute.
-- Craig Jakubczyk, 26, of Kennesaw was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
-- Thomas Knight Jr., 25, of Dallas was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
-- Jason Gazaway, 26, of Acworth was charged with possession of OxyContin.
-- Kelsey Bos, 19, of Woodstock was charged with possession of OxyContin.
-- Jesse Clark, 17, of Boaz, Alabama was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
-- Robert Clark Jr., 20, of Boaz, Alabama was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
-- Robert Clark Sr., 45, of Kennesaw was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Cherokee County deputies seized 195-prescription pills of OxyContin, methamphetamine and some cash. Sheriff Garrison says Peyton got the pills by faking pain illnesses, and paying other people to fake illnesses to get the prescriptions.
While serving the search warrant a 19-year old female, a 2007 graduate of Woodstock High School was in the residence purchasing OxyContin, according to investigators. The sheriff says two other females pulled up to the house looking to purchase the drug. "They were actually silly enough to pull down the driveway with patrol cars sitting there," Sheriff Garrison said.
OxyContin is a popular pain killing medication that has become popular among teenagers who think prescription drugs are safer. Sheriff Garrison says abusers crush the time-release tablets, making the initial dose more potent. He says sometimes they will mix it with alcohol which is a potentially lethal venture.
The arrests will lessen the availability of the drug in south Cherokee County according to the sheriff. He says other suppliers were identified during the investigation and there may be more arrests.
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Three weeks ago the Cherokee Multi Agency Narcotics Squad (CMANS) received information that teenagers were being supplied and abusing the prescription pain killer OxyContin. During that investigation, a significant dealer of the drug was identified according to Cherokee County Sheriff Roger Garrison.
On Friday, they served a search warrant at the home of 49-year old Marc Peyton. Investigators say they learned during the investigation that Peyton's home on Copperhead Road in Acworth was a place teens knew they could get the drug.
Sheriff Garrison said information from a number of undercover purchases of the drug pointed them to Peyton's home. "We think at times he may have been selling 150-pills a week, which is not huge, but it's certainly a major supplier for the region," Sheriff Garrison said.
Peyton and nine others were charged with various drug charges including possession and distribution:
-- Gregory Davis, 35, of Cartersville was charged with possession of a controlled substance and sale of OxyContin.
-- Larry Kines, 49, of Powder Springs was charged with possession of OxyContin with intent to distribute.
-- Craig Jakubczyk, 26, of Kennesaw was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
-- Thomas Knight Jr., 25, of Dallas was charged with trafficking methamphetamine and possession of marijuana.
-- Jason Gazaway, 26, of Acworth was charged with possession of OxyContin.
-- Kelsey Bos, 19, of Woodstock was charged with possession of OxyContin.
-- Jesse Clark, 17, of Boaz, Alabama was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
-- Robert Clark Jr., 20, of Boaz, Alabama was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
-- Robert Clark Sr., 45, of Kennesaw was charged with possession of methamphetamine.
Cherokee County deputies seized 195-prescription pills of OxyContin, methamphetamine and some cash. Sheriff Garrison says Peyton got the pills by faking pain illnesses, and paying other people to fake illnesses to get the prescriptions.
While serving the search warrant a 19-year old female, a 2007 graduate of Woodstock High School was in the residence purchasing OxyContin, according to investigators. The sheriff says two other females pulled up to the house looking to purchase the drug. "They were actually silly enough to pull down the driveway with patrol cars sitting there," Sheriff Garrison said.
OxyContin is a popular pain killing medication that has become popular among teenagers who think prescription drugs are safer. Sheriff Garrison says abusers crush the time-release tablets, making the initial dose more potent. He says sometimes they will mix it with alcohol which is a potentially lethal venture.
The arrests will lessen the availability of the drug in south Cherokee County according to the sheriff. He says other suppliers were identified during the investigation and there may be more arrests.
src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js">
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Excessive' prescriptions raised red flag on Sacramento jail medical director
Writing prescriptions was outside the scope of Dr. Peter Dietrich's work as medical director of the Sacramento County jail system, according to a Sheriff's Department official.
And yet Dietrich was writing so many for OxyContin – an "excessive" amount, said a state narcotics authority – that a database tracking controlled substances flagged him, officials said Thursday.
Dietrich, 51, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of writing unauthorized prescriptions, fraudulently obtaining controlled substances and illegally possessing them, according to Special Agent Michelle Gregory, a spokeswoman for the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
Sheriff's officials removed him from his position supervising the medical care of county inmates after his arrest, said department spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.
Dietrich, who has served as medical director since July 2007, will remain on paid administrative leave until internal investigators determine whether he violated any department policies or procedures, Curran said.
That investigation will be independent of, and concurrent to, the BNE's criminal investigation.
Curran said Dietrich's position was supervisorial in nature. He was not directly involved with individual inmates' care, Curran said, nor was writing prescriptions part of his job description.
Officials have not said how many fraudulent prescriptions Dietrich wrote or how much OxyContin was found in his possession. On Thursday, however, Gregory said the doctor was writing an "excessive amount" – some of them for himself, and some for another person whose identity has not yet been confirmed.
Gregory said investigators have found no evidence of trafficking and believe he was using the potent drug himself. She added, though, that officials have not yet ruled out the possibility that Dietrich was giving it away.
Dietrich, reached by telephone, declined to comment. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on Wednesday and released after posting $5,000 bail.
OxyContin is a highly addictive drug used to alleviate moderate to high pain, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Introduced in 1996, it didn't become a problem for law enforcement until recent years, said BNE Special Agent Holly Swartz.
"It's definitely rising," Swartz said of OxyContin abuse. "We're seeing much more of it."
Just a few years ago, 1 milligram of OxyContin sold for an average price of $1 in the black market, Swartz said. The price has dropped to about 50 cents – a flooded market means lower prices, she said.
The drug is typically sold in a timed-release form. But crushed up and snorted or mixed for injection, the drug delivers an immediate high, Swartz said. She likened the effects to those of heroin.
Oftentimes, OxyContin addictions stem from legitimate use. But when dependence grows, "it gets out of control," Swartz said.
Abusers don't fit many of the profiles of typical drug users, she said. Many are "high-functioning addicts" who live otherwise normal lives.
"They're people like you and me," Swartz said.
And yet Dietrich was writing so many for OxyContin – an "excessive" amount, said a state narcotics authority – that a database tracking controlled substances flagged him, officials said Thursday.
Dietrich, 51, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of writing unauthorized prescriptions, fraudulently obtaining controlled substances and illegally possessing them, according to Special Agent Michelle Gregory, a spokeswoman for the state Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement.
Sheriff's officials removed him from his position supervising the medical care of county inmates after his arrest, said department spokesman Sgt. Tim Curran.
Dietrich, who has served as medical director since July 2007, will remain on paid administrative leave until internal investigators determine whether he violated any department policies or procedures, Curran said.
That investigation will be independent of, and concurrent to, the BNE's criminal investigation.
Curran said Dietrich's position was supervisorial in nature. He was not directly involved with individual inmates' care, Curran said, nor was writing prescriptions part of his job description.
Officials have not said how many fraudulent prescriptions Dietrich wrote or how much OxyContin was found in his possession. On Thursday, however, Gregory said the doctor was writing an "excessive amount" – some of them for himself, and some for another person whose identity has not yet been confirmed.
Gregory said investigators have found no evidence of trafficking and believe he was using the potent drug himself. She added, though, that officials have not yet ruled out the possibility that Dietrich was giving it away.
Dietrich, reached by telephone, declined to comment. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on Wednesday and released after posting $5,000 bail.
OxyContin is a highly addictive drug used to alleviate moderate to high pain, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Introduced in 1996, it didn't become a problem for law enforcement until recent years, said BNE Special Agent Holly Swartz.
"It's definitely rising," Swartz said of OxyContin abuse. "We're seeing much more of it."
Just a few years ago, 1 milligram of OxyContin sold for an average price of $1 in the black market, Swartz said. The price has dropped to about 50 cents – a flooded market means lower prices, she said.
The drug is typically sold in a timed-release form. But crushed up and snorted or mixed for injection, the drug delivers an immediate high, Swartz said. She likened the effects to those of heroin.
Oftentimes, OxyContin addictions stem from legitimate use. But when dependence grows, "it gets out of control," Swartz said.
Abusers don't fit many of the profiles of typical drug users, she said. Many are "high-functioning addicts" who live otherwise normal lives.
"They're people like you and me," Swartz said.
The fight against OxyContin abuse
Black Hills High School graduate Samantha Studebaker, 22, became addicted to OxyContin two years ago, after a co-worker's offer of a quick - and free - fix for her headache while she worked a shift at the Tumwater Costco.
Quantcast
About OxyContin
OxyContin is a pain medication that belongs to the opioid family, which includes Dilaudid, Vicodin, Percocet, methadone and morphine. OxyContin, manufactured by Purdue Pharma, is distinctive for its patented "time release" of oxycodone — the active opioid in OxyContin. It is meant to alleviate pain by releasing oxycodone gradually.
• Abuse and addiction: Samantha Studebaker said she and others who abuse the drug can easily defeat OxyContin's timed-release coating by crushing the pills and snorting or smoking them for a quicker high. OxyContin, like most opioids, is addictive, meaning that users develop a physical tolerance and can suffer from withdrawal symptoms if use of the drug is stopped abruptly. At the height of Studebaker's addiction, she said, she was taking up to eight or nine 80 milligram OxyContin pills a day.
• Effects: According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's Web site, the basic pharmacological effects of OxyContin are relief from pain, "sedation, euphoria, feelings of relaxation, respiratory depression, constipation, papillary constriction, and cough suppression." Studebaker described OxyContin's effects as giving her a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, "like nothing can rain on your parade."
• Danger: Respiratory depression can be fatal when the drug is abused, according to the DEA. Since 2005, 116 people have died from drug overdoses in Thurston County, Coroner Gary Warnock said. The number of deaths from drug overdoses each year has remained relatively steady during that time, with 29 in 2005; 27 in 2006; 33 in 2007; and 27 in 2008.
Warnock said that in 2008 alone, there were several overdose deaths that were caused by "drug cocktails" of prescription drugs, including OxyContin, and other drugs.
Ann Lima of the state Department of Health's center for health statistics has said that in 2004, 267 Washington residents died from prescription opioids, the latest data available. That was up from 23 in 1995.
Ron Friedman is an assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle who last year prosecuted a burglary ring of 30 people who were breaking into pharmacies across the Northwest and California to steal OxyContin and other prescription drugs. Friedman said the abuse of OxyContin and other opioids can be fatal, unlike the abuse of some other drugs. "These prescription drugs are really dangerous," he said.
• Who is given OxyContin: The drug is commonly prescribed for cancer patients and others who suffer chronic, long-term pain. It also is prescribed to people who have pain during recovery from surgery — including dental surgery.
• History: In 2007, the pharmaceutical company that patented OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, pleaded guilty to misleading the public about the drug's risk of addiction. Purdue Pharma's president, top lawyer and former chief medical officer were ordered to pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming that the drug was less addictive and that users were less likely to abuse OxyContin than other pain medications. Purdue Pharma also agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and Washington, D.C., to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe OxyContin.
The Olympian
Soon, Studebaker says, she was paying up to $40 or $80 a pill — $1 a milligram — to that same co-worker to feed her addiction to the painkiller. At first, Studebaker used her credit cards to pay for the pills.
Then she began stealing.
In September, Studebaker was caught after embezzling more than $32,000 from Costco over about five months to pay for the OxyContin pills that her co-worker sold at increasingly high prices. Studebaker, who worked in Costco's returns department, said she entered fraudulent returns for items, then pocketed the cash.
Studebaker's story is part of a nationwide epidemic of prescription-drug abuse. In the late 1990s, OxyContin abuse ravaged communities in the East, particularly in New England and parts of the South, where it earned the name "hillbilly heroin."
In the Northwest, including Thurston County, OxyContin addiction fuels both property crime and violent crime. In 2008, the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force seized about 700 OxyContin tablets that had been diverted for illegal use, said task force commander Lt. Loreli Thompson.
Studebaker said she had never been in trouble with the law before her September arrest, and she wouldn't have started stealing if not for her addiction.
She said her co-worker had a prescription for OxyContin but didn't need the medication.
"She had a neck injury and kept telling her doctor that she needed more, but she was OK," Studebaker said. Then, "she stopped taking them and just started selling them all to me."
Tumwater police confirmed that Studebaker's former co-worker was investigated for selling the OxyContin, but the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office declined to prosecute the case.
Studebaker said that at the height of her addiction, she was taking up to eight or nine 80-milligram OxyContin pills a day.
Quantcast
About OxyContin
OxyContin is a pain medication that belongs to the opioid family, which includes Dilaudid, Vicodin, Percocet, methadone and morphine. OxyContin, manufactured by Purdue Pharma, is distinctive for its patented "time release" of oxycodone — the active opioid in OxyContin. It is meant to alleviate pain by releasing oxycodone gradually.
• Abuse and addiction: Samantha Studebaker said she and others who abuse the drug can easily defeat OxyContin's timed-release coating by crushing the pills and snorting or smoking them for a quicker high. OxyContin, like most opioids, is addictive, meaning that users develop a physical tolerance and can suffer from withdrawal symptoms if use of the drug is stopped abruptly. At the height of Studebaker's addiction, she said, she was taking up to eight or nine 80 milligram OxyContin pills a day.
• Effects: According to the Drug Enforcement Administration's Web site, the basic pharmacological effects of OxyContin are relief from pain, "sedation, euphoria, feelings of relaxation, respiratory depression, constipation, papillary constriction, and cough suppression." Studebaker described OxyContin's effects as giving her a warm and fuzzy feeling inside, "like nothing can rain on your parade."
• Danger: Respiratory depression can be fatal when the drug is abused, according to the DEA. Since 2005, 116 people have died from drug overdoses in Thurston County, Coroner Gary Warnock said. The number of deaths from drug overdoses each year has remained relatively steady during that time, with 29 in 2005; 27 in 2006; 33 in 2007; and 27 in 2008.
Warnock said that in 2008 alone, there were several overdose deaths that were caused by "drug cocktails" of prescription drugs, including OxyContin, and other drugs.
Ann Lima of the state Department of Health's center for health statistics has said that in 2004, 267 Washington residents died from prescription opioids, the latest data available. That was up from 23 in 1995.
Ron Friedman is an assistant U.S. attorney in Seattle who last year prosecuted a burglary ring of 30 people who were breaking into pharmacies across the Northwest and California to steal OxyContin and other prescription drugs. Friedman said the abuse of OxyContin and other opioids can be fatal, unlike the abuse of some other drugs. "These prescription drugs are really dangerous," he said.
• Who is given OxyContin: The drug is commonly prescribed for cancer patients and others who suffer chronic, long-term pain. It also is prescribed to people who have pain during recovery from surgery — including dental surgery.
• History: In 2007, the pharmaceutical company that patented OxyContin, Purdue Pharma, pleaded guilty to misleading the public about the drug's risk of addiction. Purdue Pharma's president, top lawyer and former chief medical officer were ordered to pay $634.5 million in fines for claiming that the drug was less addictive and that users were less likely to abuse OxyContin than other pain medications. Purdue Pharma also agreed to pay $19.5 million to 26 states and Washington, D.C., to settle complaints that it encouraged physicians to overprescribe OxyContin.
The Olympian
Soon, Studebaker says, she was paying up to $40 or $80 a pill — $1 a milligram — to that same co-worker to feed her addiction to the painkiller. At first, Studebaker used her credit cards to pay for the pills.
Then she began stealing.
In September, Studebaker was caught after embezzling more than $32,000 from Costco over about five months to pay for the OxyContin pills that her co-worker sold at increasingly high prices. Studebaker, who worked in Costco's returns department, said she entered fraudulent returns for items, then pocketed the cash.
Studebaker's story is part of a nationwide epidemic of prescription-drug abuse. In the late 1990s, OxyContin abuse ravaged communities in the East, particularly in New England and parts of the South, where it earned the name "hillbilly heroin."
In the Northwest, including Thurston County, OxyContin addiction fuels both property crime and violent crime. In 2008, the Thurston County Narcotics Task Force seized about 700 OxyContin tablets that had been diverted for illegal use, said task force commander Lt. Loreli Thompson.
Studebaker said she had never been in trouble with the law before her September arrest, and she wouldn't have started stealing if not for her addiction.
She said her co-worker had a prescription for OxyContin but didn't need the medication.
"She had a neck injury and kept telling her doctor that she needed more, but she was OK," Studebaker said. Then, "she stopped taking them and just started selling them all to me."
Tumwater police confirmed that Studebaker's former co-worker was investigated for selling the OxyContin, but the Thurston County Prosecutor's Office declined to prosecute the case.
Studebaker said that at the height of her addiction, she was taking up to eight or nine 80-milligram OxyContin pills a day.
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