Category Archives: Drug Dependency

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida's attorney general and the Federal Trade Commission were granted a court order requiring more than $730,000 in restitution from Jacksonville company offering a bogus alcoholism cure. The order also bans the Alcoholism Cure Foundation and Robert Douglas Krotzer, its owner, from marketing or selling any treatment or cure for alcoholism, drug addiction or any other human health-related problem. "The fact that this company deceived consumers and threatened to reveal their personal information is abhorrent," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "I am grateful to the FTC for their partnership in stopping this company from exploiting consumers and providing refunds for those harmed by this companys actions." The complaint alleged that the company prescribed concoctions of dietary supplements claiming they could cure alcoholism. Robert Douglas Krotzer, owner of the company, purportedly charged consumers about $350 for the supplements and services and falsely claimed that the consumers could cancel any time. When consumers attempted to cancel their memberships, Krotzer threatened to publicly reveal the consumers' alcoholism. The company operated under the names Enjoy a Few and Guilt Free Drinking. According to the attorney general's office, the company boasted that their team of doctors would create customized, low-cost and permanent … Continue reading →

The wonder drug for sleep deprived patients, Provigil, is getting some good press. But a news report reveals there are some side effects and it's not known if long term use is harmful or not. The drug was intended for sufferers of sleep apnea, narcolepsy and other disorders, but has recently been prescribed for fatigue and patients complaining of lack of concentration. The boost most report, with no dependency difficulties, has caused doctors to prescribe the drug for people who want to increase their vigor and give them an edge in occupations like business and even piloting aircraft. At this point, most patients on Provigil, or its generic counterpart Modafinil, are reporting wondrous results with no addiction or withdrawal symptoms. But a news report by the Huffington Post shows there are reports of adverse side effects. These include headaches, nausea, back pain and tingling skin. Some have even reported rashes, problems with breathing, depression and even hallucinations. But the biggest worry is that the drug hasn't been tested for long-term problems and, since the drug is relatively new and not yet widely prescribed, there's no way of telling until time has gone by. By then it may be too late. … Continue reading →

(PR NewsChannel) / July 17, 2012 / CHARLESTON, S.C. "The Janus Doctor: A Nightmare of Drugs and Deceit" by James J. Scheiner In The Janus Doctor: A Nightmare of Drugs and Deceit (ISBN 1475107633), Dr. James J. Scheiner exposes drug abuse among doctors, beginning with his own sordid story of addiction, fraud and deceit. Once a competent surgeon, his chemical dependency eventually cost him his practice. To survive, he agrees to oversee experimental drug trials for pharmaceutical companies. Instead, he cooks the books, inventing data and patients along the way. He is sent to prison, where he hits rock bottom and begins a long process of recovery, both spiritually and physically. In prison, with the help of a wise rabbi and a notorious Black Panther member, Scheiner learns to confront his past and change his behavior. He looks back to his impoverished youth with alcoholic, workhorse parents who drove him into the medical profession against his will. As a result, he took to drugs to propel him to the top of his class and never learned how to quit his addiction. As a drug-addicted doctor, he was not alone. According to Scheiner, current statistics suggest that approximately 1 in 7 … Continue reading →

Two men involved in a drug ring that police say supplied more than $180,000 of methamphetamine to people in Marlborough have been sent to jail. Kahurangi Maru, 22, and Benjamin Horace Stephen Way, 28, were two of three men involved in a drug-dealing ring that sourced methamphetamine from Auckland and distributed it to people in Marlborough. In Blenheim District Court yesterday, Judge John Walker sentenced Maru to a total of 5 years' jail and Way to a total of 4 years' jail. Maru had admitted 22 charges of supplying methamphetamine, two charges of carrying a firearm, and one charge of conspiringto deal. Way had admitted two charges of supplying meth, two charges of dealing cannabis, possessing a needle, and growing and possessing cannabis plants. Police said between 126 and 168 grams of methamphetamine was bought from a source in Auckland, costing around $49,000, with a street value of $180,000. Judge Walker said: "The three of you decided to enter a partnership to supply meth in Marlborough in a drug-dealing ring. You sourced the drug in Auckland, transported it to Marlborough, and in a group, packaged it into smaller quantities to sell it. "You were prepared to distribute a drug in … Continue reading →

Terry Sallis stood outside of the Center for Arts & Artists on Friday having what appeared to be a casual conversation in a circle of people. Sallis, an average height 61-year-old African American, stood with his hands in his khaki shorts chatting with a young man in a plain white T-shirt and jeans who appeared to be in his late teens or early 20s. To his left stood Karen Sallis and Kim Zantingh. They all wore smiles. But, as relaxed as the circle appeared, the implications of the gathering could have profound effects on the young mans lifestyle and future a path that Terry knows intimately. We were just talking to a guy out here a few minutes ago and he said, I think I need a little bit more help than just myself, Terry said a short time later in his office. And for the most part, addicts think that this is a disease or a disorder that they can fix themselves without the help of other people, and thats just simply not the case. Together, Terry and his wife, Karen Sallis, have operated Integrated Treatment Services (ITS), LLC at the CAA for seven years. Both are licensed masters … Continue reading →

Health Care Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Adolescent The Arrowhead Posted: 21 hours ago Health Care Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Adolescent The Arrowhead Center is seeking a counselor to provide outpatient adolescent chemical dependency treatment at our Duluth location. Qualified candidates must be a Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC) in the state of Minnesota. Preferred qualifications: Completion of the DHS 30-hour training required to provide therapy to adolescents. Experience conducting intakes, assessments, group and individual therapy, aftercare, or experience working in the chemical dependency field is also preferred. The successful candidate will be motivated and a self-starter. This position is full-time, $40,000-$45,000 per year depending on experience. Sign-on bonus and excellent benefits package! Please send cover letter and resume to: Attn: Roy Connaughton, CEO Arrowhead Center, Inc. 505 12th Ave. W., Suite1 Read this article: Health Care Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Adolescent The Arrowhead … Continue reading →

(AP) LONDON - When Eva Rausing approached the heavily guarded U.S. Embassy in London's Grosvenor Square four years ago to deal with a routine passport matter, she had to pass through British security, then face an airport-style metal detector so she and her handbag could be scanned for weapons and contraband. The wealthy American didn't leave her stash at home. She tried to pass the security scan with small amounts of crack cocaine, heroin and a banned stimulant in her purse. The subsequent arrest led police to search the multimillion-dollar property she shared with her husband, Tetra Pak heir Hans Kristian Rausing. Police found still more drugs, including a sizeable amount of cocaine. Charges were dropped in exchange for a formal police warning, but the arrest made public what close family and friends already knew: The golden couple, with untold riches, were deeply mired in drug addiction even as they gave millions to numerous anti-addiction charities. Their sad tale reached its climax this week when the 48-year-old Eva Rausing was found dead in their home and her husband arrested for questioning about drug use and placed in hospital care. The cause of Eva Rausing's death has not yet been established. … Continue reading →

In the neo-natal intensive care unit at the East Tennessee Children's Hospital in Knoxville, nurses give baby Grayson morphine every three hours to help ease his painful withdrawal symptoms. "He's currently on 160 micrograms," said nurse Andrew Pressnell. Other newborn babies shake and scream as nurses rush to administer care around the clock. Nearly half of the infants in the hospital's NICU are suffering from opiate withdrawal -- most from prescription painkillers. Watch the full story on "Nightline" TONIGHT at 11:35 p.m. ET Baby Grayson was quaking when he was admitted to the hospitals NICU at just 48 hours old. He was born with a serious drug dependency because his pregnant mother was addicted to painkillers. Grayson was brought to Children's Hospital from another hospital to wait for a spot in its special unit for newborns detoxing from painkillers. This specialized unit, just for babies going through withdrawal, is now full. In fact, out of the 58 babies in the hospital's NICU, 23 of them are going through withdrawal from prescription pills, including OxyContin, Vicodin and methadone. "I know people probably think I exaggerate when I say they have this very fearful look in their eyes, well they do," said … Continue reading →

Deaths and emergency room visits from prescription drug abuse have climbed every year since the county started tracking the data in 2007 and more young adults are seeking treatment for the problem in San Diego County, according to a study released Monday. Easy availability of prescription drugs and the publics perception that theyre not dangerous, even in high doses, accounts for much of the problem, county officials said. Officials held a news conference Monday to unveil the countys first Prescription Drug Abuse Report Card that takes a five-year snapshot of the problem. They also urged people to get educated on prescription drug dependency, and to get help if they or anyone they know is struggling with the problem. Our goal is to motivate people to take action and to reduce access to prescription drugs for those who dont need them, said Nick Machione, director of the County Health and Human Services Agency. We knew prescription drug abuse was on the rise in San Diego County. We now have the statistics to prove it. From 2007 to 2010, prescription drug-related emergency room visits jumped 64 percent, with more than 2,900 people getting treatment at local ERs in 2010. From 2007 to … Continue reading →

HATTIESBURG, Miss., July 9, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services announces the opening of its newest addiction treatment program for patients 60 and older, Legacy. With an estimated three million older Americans struggling with addiction, the newly renovated wing is one of the few treatment facilities in the world designed specifically for older adults with alcohol, prescription medication and illicit drug dependency. Debbie Sanford, chief officer of behavioral health services at Pine Grove, says "We have seen a growing number of older patients and realize they need a program that understands and addresses the generational as well as physical differences that often make it difficult for them to feel comfortable in traditional treatment programs." Sanford and her team enlisted the country's top expert in aging and addiction, Carol Colleran, to help with the development of the Legacy program. Colleran, a renowned educator and advocate for Boomer and older adult recovery, has spent the past 25 years developing and operating specialized addiction treatment programs for the older adult. She has participated in policy development, education and special studies for several international, national and government organizations, including the U.N., Columbia University and the Substance Abuse and Mental … Continue reading →