For the last 100 yrs – or so – we have had a relative equilibrium in the number of people abusing some substance – other than alcohol or tobacco – about 1%-2% of the population. Why would drug dealers create a more lethal mix of Heroin and Fentanyl… that is the craziest “business plan” I have ever heard of … killing off your customer base.  It would appear that the bureaucrats are coming to the rescue of helping keep – or increase – the number of people abusing some substance… they are making Naloxone more readily available -the antidote to a opiate overdose.  They claim that in Indiana since it became more widely available that 1000 lives have been saved.. They don’t say if that is only 100 people that have been “rescued ” 10 different times each… you know .. “frequent fliers”.  Maybe the bureaucrats are just trying to “grow” the pool of “addicts/abusers” they keep our judicial system in business… because with the reducing of prescribers writing opiate Rxs… these people have to result to robbing pharmacies, stealing from pts and other violent and non-violent crimes… it keeps the street gangs and cartels in business… and all the dead bodies resulting from “turf wars” over selling drugs on the street. The DEA is loosing the jurisdiction over MJ and MMJ… so is there “hidden agenda” here to protect budgets and staffing levels ?

Antidote for heroin overdose could be more available under proposed bill

http://www.jconline.com/story/news/local/indiana/2015/03/17/antidote-heroin-overdose-available-proposed-bill/24893157/

INDIANAPOLIS – Hoosiers with loved ones or friends with a heroin addiction may be able to save their lives in the event of an overdose if a bill moving through the General Assembly becomes law.

Naloxone – also known as Narcan – is an intervention drug that reverses heroin overdose effects. The drug is administered through a syringe – without a needle – and shot into the user’s nose.

Under a law passed last year, only first responders, police officers, and EMTs can carry the syringe filled with the antidote.

Kristen Kelley, the director of the Indiana Prescription Drug Task Force, said heroin usage is a growing problem in the state. She said that can be attributed the decreasing number of prescriptions written for prescription painkillers.

NEWS FLASH !!!!

“We’ve noticed that there has been a significant decrease in the amount of prescriptions that have been issued for opioids but the unintended consequence is that the use of heroin has increased,” Kelley said.

DEA Warns About Powerful Opioid

http://www.dailyrx.com/fentanyl-deemed-public-health-threat

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This was a comment on a website … that I ran across…  I suspect that any pt that has had knee , hip replacement or has a bunch of metal in their spine or one or more spinal joints fused… The chances of them being able to walk a straight line.. is somewhere between slim and NONE ! Medications not withstanding… probably even less if they have been on a “pharmacy crawl” and out of their medications or overly anxious about not getting their meds… all could affect their composure and ability to walk a straight line. I wonder if the pt had been a diabetic and was dealing with a low blood sugar episode… and was stopped by a cop… under similar circumstances… what would the person be charged with – if anything… Amazing how a subjective observation can turn into a factual charge/arrest.

 I know of two people in Alabama who recently were charged with DUI because they could not pass a sobriety test( walking a straight line) because of their disabilities. You should look at this site for best experienced DUI lawyer for your case. They were both stopped by state troopers. Neither were drinking. The officer asked if they took pain meds and what they were. They answered truthfully. Because they took a narcotic he said, o that’s it. Both were charged with DUI. They were stopped because they looked away and swerved. They didn’t know to ask for an attorney and were told other charges would be dropped if they pled guilty to the DUI.Advises from Manassas DUI lawyer can help lot on tough situations. Lost their license for nine months and having to pay hefty fines. Neither had taken more than the prescribed amount. Now due to some concerned citizens, their cases are being looked into. A DUI Attorney іѕ a person whо саn help a person charged undеr thе DUI law. A lot оf people аrе booked undеr ѕuсh cases bесаuѕе оf thе increasing rate оf drug/alcohol consumption. Thеrеfоrе, a lawyer іѕ a person whо саn help уоu. A DUI attorney саn provide уоu a wide range оf advantages. A DUI lawyer possesses good experience whеn іt соmеѕ tо defending DUI suspects аnd thеу аrе acquainted wіth thе DUI laws оf thеіr state. Thеу еvеn propose thе best deal whеn іt соmеѕ tо bargaining wіth thе prosecutor аnd thе case.DUI attorneys wіll аlѕо bе able tо help уоu gеt a driver’s license bасk and/or hаvе thе DUI charge reduced оr dismissed. If thе suspect wаѕ arrested fоr driving undеr thе influence аnd hаd hіѕ license administratively suspended bу thе arresting officer thrоugh thе Department оf Highway Safety аnd Motor Vehicles, a DUI attorney саn appeal thе license suspension аnd, hopefully, recover thе license bеfоrе going tо court. Thіѕ wіll allow thе suspect tо kеер driving untіl thе case іѕ іn trial, whіlе thе judge hаѕ nоt decided whеthеr оr nоt tо revoke оr suspend thе license criminally.

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Filed under: General Problems | 3 Comments »

Matt Grant has done several 3-4 minute reports over the last month on pts not getting their medications because of Pharmacists “not comfortable”.. looking for people in the Orlando area to send him a video for him to use on this expose special…  Matt is an investigative reporter for channel 2 www.wesh.com in Orlando. If you can do this and don’t.. the next time that you can’t get your meds … look in the mirror to see who contributed to your problem… YOU DO NOTHING…. YOU GET NOTHING …

IMPORTANT – Attention ALL Chronic Pain Patients who have problems getting scripts filled. Matt Grant the investigative reporter for WESH 2 NEWS contacted me with this request. PLEASE HELP HIM OUT by making a video if this pertains to you or anyone you know. Here’s the message –
The videos need to be longer – about 25-30 seconds – they need to be shot horizontally (longways, not up and down) – and patients need to say more than just that they are a “chronic pain” sufferer. We need to know: Their name and where they are from? (We do not want anyone who lives outside of Florida)? What they suffer from (specifically)? How long have they been rejected for pain medication? What medication is being rejected? What do pharmacists tell them? How has this impacted their quality of life?
>
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> Please pass that along so that we can use the videos the patients are kind enough to send us. Could you have the woman who shot that redo it?
>
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> Thanks!
> Matt
>
Email Matt at mjgrant@hearst.com

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http://bcove.me/avp7i54e

Wash. town opens first government-run marijuana store

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/09/washington-town-pot-shop/24660263/

The country’s first government-run marijuana store is open for business in Washington state.

The Cannabis Corner in North Bonneville, Wash., opened over the weekend. The store is run by the town’s public development authority, which the town specifically created to open it. The town loaned the store $15,000 to get the store going, a loan the authority has since paid back with money raised from private investors.

“It’s great. It’s a mixture of excitement and relief,” said Mayor Don Stevens. “It’s been a real community effort and it’s absolutely rewarding to see.”

USA TODAY

Pot rules: States differ on regulating marijuana use

Under Washington’s legal marijuana system — the first legal sales began July 8, 2014 — store licenses are handed out based on population and geography. By snagging one of Skamania County’s two available licenses, North Bonneville ensures that government officials play a major role in marijuana sales, which they say will help them keep pot out of the hands of kids while benefiting the town’s bottom line.

In an extensive Q&A posted on the town’s website, town officials note their lagging economy, property values and sales tax collections. Stevens said the town also hopes to persuade marijuana growers and processors to buy or lease land in the town, bringing with them possibly dozens of jobs. North Bonneville is inside the Columbia River Gorge, nearly 50 miles east of Portland, Ore.

USA TODAY

Marijuana legal but often scarce in Washington state

“The reality is that our property values are already at record lows. It’s hard to imagine how being in the forefront of an emerging era with the increased tourist traffic, greater economic opportunities and a national media (presence) could lower property values any further,” the town said. “The only way appears to be up.”
Some of the product for sale at The Cannabis Corner,

Some of the product for sale at The Cannabis Corner, the country’s first government-run marijuana store in North Bonneville, Wash. (Photo: Screen grab via KGW-TV, Portland, Ore.)

Washington state only permits 334 licensed marijuana stores statewide, although far fewer have actually opened their doors. Colorado, in contrast, put no limit on the stores and already has about 336 of them, although all are privately owned. The entire industry, of course, remains in violation of federal law, although the Justice Department has said it will generally leave alone marijuana stores that are doing a good job keeping pot away from kids and profits out of the hands of drug cartels.

By running the store, the town gets to keep any profits. Under state law, marijuana tax revenues go back to Washington state. In Colorado, cities and towns can collect their own sales taxes on pot purchases made at retail stores.

USA TODAY

Colo. pot users helping build schools with tax dollars

Stevens said he expects other Washington cities and towns will seek their own marijuana stores once they see the success North Bonneville expects. He said the fact that national news outlets are covering the story indicates the town is on the right track.

“I think this store is one more facet of the total package we have to offer,” he said.

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Another RARE incident ?

http://www.pharmacy-mistake.com/west-virginia-cvs-sued-for-chemotherapy-drug-mistake

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Police investigate armed robbery at Indianapolis nursing home

http://fox59.com/2015/03/17/police-investigate-armed-robbery-at-nursing-home/

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (March 17, 2015) – Indianapolis Metropolitan Police are on the search for the armed suspect who robbed an assisted living center on the southeast side of Indianapolis over the weekend. Around 4:15 Sunday morning, employees at the Golden Living Center, located in the 2800 block of Churchman Avenue, called to report the robbery.  A female employee told police she saw a man she didn’t recognize standing in a hallway inside the building.

The man was wearing sunglasses and a hood tied tightly around his face.  When she told the man visiting hours were over, he continued walking down the hallway.

That’s when she saw he was armed with a long rifle.

Employees told police the suspect grabbed a male employee by his clothing and dragged him down the hallway to a nurses station.  He then pointed the rifle at another female employee and ordered her to open two medication carts.  The suspect grabbed various prescription drugs and put them into a white bag.  He ordered the employees to give him their cell phones and patted the male employee down, apparently looking for his phone.  The suspect did not get any cell phones from any employees.

The employees said the suspect ran outside through a side door, which he had already propped open, and got away.

“It’s not something that anyone would expect to happen, and it shouldn’t happen” said facility director Todd Mann.  “And we’re cooperating with the police fully, to the best of our ability to make sure these folks are brought to justice.”

Mann said he doesn’t know how the suspect got into the assisted living center.  He said every door to the building is locked with a key code, and the codes are periodically changed.  He also said the employees who encountered the suspect said they did not recognize the man.

Mann said he has no information to suggest the suspect could have been a current or former employee, or anyone with inside knowledge about the building.

“At this point, we’re relying on the police to investigate this and kind of get back to us on it,” Mann said.  “And we’re doing our best to cooperate with those folks.”

An Indiana State Police Trooper was standing guard at the facility Tuesday morning.  Just one of several extra security steps taken in response to the robbery, Mann said.

“The safety of residents is the most important thing,” Mann said.

Man also said Golden Living Center has backup prescriptions so no residents went without scheduled doses as a result of the robbery.

While pharmacy robberies have become common in the Indianapolis area, Steve Dubois, of central Indiana Crime Stoppers, said an armed robbery at a nursing home is rare.  He said it’s another indication of the lengths some people will go to get their hands on prescription narcotics.

“There are certain people who will do certain things to get what they want, and they don’t care who they hurt in the process,” Dubois said.  “And this is a perfect example of that.  And these people need to be brought in front of a judge.”

IMPD are taking tips about the robbery.  Anyone with information can all them, or Crime Stoppers at (317) 262-TIPS.

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Zoeller fighting synthetic drug ban appeal

INDIANAPOLIS (WLFI) — Attorney General Greg Zoeller urges the Indiana Supreme Court to overturn two court appeal decisions that strike down a portion of the state’s ban on synthetic drugs.

In January, the Indiana Court of Appeals ruled a portion of Indiana’s synthetic drug ban was unconstitutional because it is hard to define what substances are illegal.

The statute bans a list of more than 80 chemical compounds and look-alike substances including any declared a synthetic drug by the Board of Pharmacy.

Ag Zoeller and the judicial system of Indiana has been so successful in the war on drugs in this state.. that the states ranks in the top three for pharmacy robberies and break-ins and met lab bust. Perhaps Zoeller and the BOP have yet to figure out that you cannot legislate individual common sense. Those people that have an addictive personality are – or will be – in a death spiral and no matter what the bureaucrats attempt to prevent them 98%+ will end up in the same place… some will bottom out and get their act together, some will continue to abuse some substance and unfortunately many will die. Unless we are committed into treating them.. they will end up in jail or a grave.

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Sandoz to Pay $12.64 Million in CMP Settlement with HHS OIG for Misrepresenting Drug Pricing Data to Medicare

https://oig.hhs.gov/newsroom/news-releases/2015/sandoz.asp

Contact: HHS OIG Media Communications
Media@OIG.HHS.GOV
(202) 619-1343

Washington, DC – The HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) announced today that Sandoz Inc. will pay $12.64 million to settle allegations it misrepresented drug pricing data to the Medicare program.

The Sandoz settlement is the largest ever entered into under OIG’s drug price reporting civil monetary penalty (CMP) authority.

“The Medicare program relies on drug manufacturers to accurately report pricing information,” said OIG Chief Counsel, Gregory E. Demske. “We hope today’s settlement reinforces for these companies the importance of taking their drug price reporting responsibilities seriously.”

Federal law requires drug makers to report both accurate and timely “Average Sales Price” information to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). CMS uses this information to set payment amounts for most drugs covered under Medicare Part B. Inaccurate pricing information can cause Medicare to overpay for these drugs. OIG can seek CMPs against manufacturers that misrepresent, or fail to timely report, drug pricing information.

OIG alleged that, between January 2010 and March 2012, Sandoz misrepresented Average Sales Price data to CMS. “Sandoz’s misrepresentations undermined the integrity of the Medicare Part B drug pricing system; we will continue to penalize manufacturers that misrepresent or fail to timely file the required information,” Chief Counsel Demske noted.

Sandoz, a division of Novartis Pharmaceuticals and one of the world’s largest generic manufacturers, markets hundreds of generic medications in the United States. OIG previously pursued CMPs against Sandoz for late reporting of drug pricing information to CMS. That case was settled in December 2011 with Sandoz paying $230,000.

The settlement includes a certification by the company that it has established a government pricing compliance program. Sandoz has denied liability and no judgment or finding of liability has been made against Sandoz.

Drug manufacturers report several types of drug pricing information to CMS. In addition to determining Medicare Part B payments, pricing data is used to calculate rebates that manufacturers pay to the States in connection with the Medicaid program.

The issue of late or inaccurate reporting of drug pricing information has been a longstanding area of concern for OIG. OIG’s Office of Evaluation and Inspections has issued several reports relating to price reporting by manufacturers. In 2010, OIG issued a Special Advisory Bulletin notifying drug manufacturers of the office’s intent to pursue CMP actions for failure to meet reporting requirements.

OIG was represented in this matter by Geeta W. Kaveti and Nicole Caucci.

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Florida Doctor Indicted By Feds For Illegal Pain Meds

http://health.wusf.usf.edu/post/florida-doctor-indicted-feds-illegal-pain-meds

A northeast Florida doctor has been indicted by a federal grand jury for causing a patient’s death by selling an illegal combination of pain medications.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office says 56-year-old Russell Sachs is being charged with four counts, including of dispensing and distributing controlled substances for no legitimate medical purpose.

The indictment says Sachs gave out morphine, which led to the death of a patient.

The Florida Times-Union reports that records show four people died of accidental overdose while in Sachs’ care in 2009.

Sachs told the newspaper that the patient deaths were caused by their own doctor-shopping medication abuse.

If convicted, Sachs faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 20-years-to-life in federal prison on count one and up to 20 years for each of the other counts.

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