CVS has over 700 Florida locations and will not say the amount of doctors they notified with the official letter telling them prescriptions will no longer be filled at their stores. One doctor claims CVS has pegged him a criminal and he has fired back with legal action. Many are praising CVS for taking this measure since Florida has reached an all time high with abuse of prescription drugs and is seeing epidemic proportions of abuse and overdoses.

In 2010, 90 percent of all Oxycodone was purchased from doctors in Florida. CVS spokesman, Mike DeAngelis said that while CVS regrets any inconveniences they have caused their customers, they do treat the distribution of controlled substances with the most serious care and awareness. CVS maintains that they are unwavering in their compliance and prevention efforts to keep drug abuse controlled and these substances free from the wrong hands. Law enforcement officials have targeted local drug rings in the state by monitoring doctors who supply prescriptions at pain clinics to be sold on the streets. Last July, lawmakers enforced legislation that increased penalties on doctors and later banned most from dispensing painkillers in their offices.

It is uncertain what impact this decision from CVS will have as they are the first to take such action in the fight against prescription painkiller abuse, publicly.

Online Pharmacies Are a Source

A commentary published in the December issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine highlights the role played by Internet pharmacies and goes on to suggest strategies which could be employed to eliminate them as a source of illicit prescription drugs. All agree that the flow of prescription drugs over the Internet needs to be more strongly regulated.

Physician Prescriptions Are Rarely Required

The University of Southern California (USC) released findings from a study which showed that from 2000-2007, states which experienced the greatest increase in use of high speed Internet also experienced an increase in treatment center admissions for prescription drug addiction.

Columbia University studies reveal that a full 85 percent of Internet Websites which sell prescription medications never require any form of physician prescription in order to purchase them. A few online pharmacies ask buyers to complete a questionnaire, but do not require a physician prescription. The rare pharmacy which does require a prescription often allows buyers to fax those prescriptions, leaving a huge potential for fraud.

No Way to Block Sales to Children

There is no current method for blocking the sale of prescription medications via the Internet to children. Addiction specialists warn that this is especially dangerous since most addictive lifestyles begin with substance abuse during adolescence.

Recent surveys, which suggest that roughly 10 percent of those abusing prescription drugs obtain them via the Internet, are probably woefully low estimates according to the commentary’s authors. Such a figure fails to account for the majority of abusers who purchase the drugs online and doesn’t even touch the street suppliers who make purchases online. The seriousness of the situation has moved some to take action.

Federal Regulations and Warnings Still Falling Short

The FDA has sent out letters of warning to Internet pharmacies and the service providers attached to them. These letters are backed up by the 2008 Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act which makes it illegal for controlled medications to be delivered when the prescribing physician never saw the patient face to face. The efforts do not enjoy the support of search engines which continue to run advertising for online pharmacies.

What More Can Be Done?

Putting a stop to prescription drug abuse is becoming the number one drug abuse concern in the United States. Federal law enforcement agencies and research institutions are doing what they can to stem the flow of prescription drugs through illicit online pharmacies. Physicians need to become more alert to the problem and should inquire about online pharmacy drug use as a part of routine health history intake procedures. Establishing a national electronic record of all patient prescriptions could also help to limit access to these addictive medications.

The study was part of a September issue that focused on alcohol and aggression. Researchers reviewed a sample of 365 male college students: 42.4% had no history of sexual assault, 31.2% were considered sexual perpetrators while drinking alcohol and 26.4% were perpetrators without any alcohol consumption.

The study showed that there were very few differences between those who committed sexual assault whether sober or drinking. The perpetrators who drank alcohol differed from the others in their belief that alcohol increased their sexual appeal and women’s interest in engaging in sex and thus drank the most in potential situations where they thought they might get sex.

The results found that alcohol was the primary reason influencing men in these circumstances to commit sexual assault. Alcohol did affect aggression, but these were already strongest for men predisposed to aggressive outbursts. Twenty-five percent of men committed sexual assaults whether sober or drinking, indicating that the alcohol was unnecessary in their actions.

In general, the study found that attitudes, personality characteristics and past history as sexual perpetrators who drank during the assault were similar to those not drinking during the assault. Therefore, intoxication may be a more important indicator of when some men commit these types of sexual assaults, rather than those who are sexually aggressive even sober.

Researchers in this field seek to improve upon prevention and treatment options. They recognize that if they have a more exact understanding of the role alcohol plays in sexual assaults by these perpetrators, it will only help them develop more helpful interventions.

While abusing a substance isn’t causally linked to domestic violence, experts say the connection between substance abuse and domestic violence is so strong that addressing substance abuse should be a normal part of treatment for many families seeking to recover from domestic violence.

Part of the connection between substance abuse and domestic violence is that a person’s ability to make sound decisions and manage their emotions is convoluted and lowered by drugs or alcohol. As a person abuses illegal drugs and alcohol, their thought patterns become disconnected or incoherent – making it seem more “rational” to abuse a family member.

As financial problems and workplace struggles result from the substance abuse, the tension at home escalates, and the substance addict may need larger quantities of the drugs or alcohol to achieve the desired feelings. Consequently, their thought patterns become more bizarre and they may be more likely to abuse a family member, either physically, emotionally, or both.

The person addicted to drugs or alcohol is also likely to neglect their family or live in denial, further building the risk that they will abuse a family member. The violence becomes a way to externalize or escape from the internal feelings of shame, anger or stress. Acting out violently can also create a false sense of confidence that the addict may be seeking.

For women who abuse drugs or alcohol, the risk may be even higher for experiencing domestic violence because the substance can impair her ability to make a decision to leave during an episode or to seek help. It is estimated that 85 percent of domestic abuse victims are women. Some women may be more likely to turn to alcohol to manage the emotional or physical pain of being a victim of domestic violence.

Children who live in homes with domestic violence are more likely to abuse a spouse or children themselves as adults, and will also exhibit problems socially and academically at school. Well over three million children in the age span of 3-17 experience violence at home on an annual basis.
When substance abuse and violence at home occur together, professional treatment is necessary to untangle complex issues and behavioral patterns before the problem becomes more intense. It is especially important that help is sought sooner rather than later, as people caught in the cycle of substance abuse and domestic violence may not even be aware of just how dangerous the situation has become.
 

Loverde, a recovering drug addict, recently went on the record and revealed just how easy it is for prescription drug addicts to find their next fix. Although we certainly hear much more about it recent days than in years past (thanks in large part to Corey Haim and Michael Jackson), prescription drug addiction, drug seeking, doctor shopping, and drug-related theft are not new phenomena.

The lifecycle of a prescription drug addiction runs a fairly typical course. In Loverde’s case, it began innocently enough in the late 1990s when a friend who was being treated for cancer offered him a Vicodin after Loverde complained about his shoulder pain. While he experienced positive results from that first pill, it did not turn Loverde into a pill seeker overnight; he also rarely drank and didn’t smoke pot. It wasn’t until he helped himself to a handful after finding a large bottle of the painkiller in a car that he was servicing that the real trouble started. It didn’t take long until tracking down Vicodin became his primary task each day. Although his addiction stopped temporarily during college, it returned full force after graduation.

Because prescription drugs are not as readily available as other types of illicit drugs, addicts must get creative in order to avoid withdrawal. In Loverde’s case, he would fake back pain at a doctor’s office or in the emergency room in order to get a prescription for OxyContin or Vicodin. In order to also qualify for a shot of Demerol, Loverde would lie when asked if he had driven himself to the appointment.

Having run through many of the area doctors, clinics, and emergency rooms, Loverde had to get creative in order to maintain his consumption of prescription drugs. Although drug seeking from doctors is, by no means, acceptable behavior, it was mild compared to Loverde’s next scheme. In essence, Loverde developed a routine in which he scoped out homes for sale in the suburbs around where he lived and stole pills from their medicine cabinets when he was being toured around by a real estate agent. During these showings, Loverde would excuse himself to use the bathroom and would have unfettered access to the homeowners’ smorgasbord of prescription medication. Loverde would also attend garage sales, where unwary homeowners would invite him in to use the loo. During his stint as the “medicine cabinet bandit”, Loverde failed to find a house that didn’t provide some type of medication to feed his prescription drug addiction.

Loverde still remembers the open house he was attending when he realized that he had hit rock bottom. As usual, he had snagged a showing appointment for this particular house by pretending to be a very interested potential buyer. Once inside, however, he stole a large amount of Vicodin from the bedroom, despite the fact that he also saw a pair of crutches and a wheelchair in the room. He was likely stealing from someone who really needed those painkillers. After leaving, he immediately drove to a pharmacy and used the refill on the prescription bottle to get more pills.

By this time, Loverde was taking what amounted to 120 pills every day. Reduced to stealing drugs from the disabled, as well as using up the only available way of quickly replacing the stolen pain medication, Loverde could not deny that he had a huge problem.

Like many prescription drug addicts who do not have ready access to valid prescriptions, Loverde’s Vicodin habit exposed him to problems with the law. He was arrested twice for prescription fraud and forgery and ended up in jail for violating his probation. When the availability of Vicodin dried up he, like many other prescription drug addicts, turned to heroin. Thankfully, Michael Loverde has been off prescription drugs for over five years. He currently runs Family First Intervention, an Illinois certified drug addiction counseling practice

As Loverde’s story shows, it’s not just celebrities who have prescription drug problems. Recent studies by the National Institute of Health (NIH) have shown that over 20 percent of people in the US have misused prescription drugs (i.e., have taken a prescription drug for nonmedical reasons). The most commonly abused prescription drugs include OxyContin and Vicodin (powerful painkillers), Valium and Xanax (anti-anxiety drugs), and Ritalin and Adderall (stimulants used to treat ADHD). More alarmingly, the Centers for Disease Control reports that over 20 percent of students in high school have admitted to taking one of these often-abused medications without a prescription. Local law enforcement encounter “regular folk” addicts every day in emergency rooms, at physician’s offices, and in drug stores.

What’s causing this increase in prescription drug abuse? Experts cite the dramatic increase in the number of prescriptions being written and filled these days. In 2000, Americans filled approximately one billion prescriptions; ten years later that number has quadrupled to nearly four billion. Prescriptions for the most commonly abused medications are written by doctors and psychiatrists alike, for things like sore backs and toothaches. For addicts, these lax medical offices are like candy stores. And that’s not all. Addicts are also able to get their hands on highly potent cancer painkillers, such as Fentora or Opana, even when they are cancer-free. How do they do it? They simply ask their doctor.

Many doctors, however, object to the negative light that the prescription drug problem has shown on the medical profession, insisting that the pills are generally prescribed for legitimate purposes. The problem is that doctors have no control over what patients do with the drugs once the prescription is filled at a local pharmacy. Many doctors and medical facilities take care to ensure that they are not prescribing addictive medication to a drug addict or pill seeker. In Illinois, for example, the new state-wide prescription monitoring program provides a database that medical personnel can use to research an individual patient’s past and current prescription drug history.

No matter how diligent doctors are at making sure that they aren’t prescribing to drug addicts, there is little they can do if their patients distribute the medication to others. People like Loverde’s friend exacerbate the prescription drug problem when they offer up their own medication in order to alleviate the suffering of a friend or family member.

That’s not to say, however, that all patients who are prescribed addictive substances distribute them like candy to others. Instead, addicts get the drugs from less straight-forward methods such as raiding the medicine cabinets of family, friends, or like Loverde, perfect strangers. Due to negligent safeguarding of unused medications in the home, even the most righteous prescription for Vicodin can turn ugly if a drug addict gets his hands on the unused bottle standing forgotten in the medicine cabinet.

Why do we hold on to these old, often expired, medicines? Most Americans see prescription drugs as any other product that they buy in the marketplace – if there is any left over after they have used it, they save it for a rainy day. This hoarding of dangerous medications is a result of a combination of consumer attitudes, including having products readily available in case of emergencies (like batteries or light bulbs), and getting your money’s worth (why throw the bottle of ketchup away if there is enough left for one more burger some day). However, unlike stockpiling batteries or saving ketchup, hanging on to unused medication can lead to tragedy ranging from innocent children getting into medicine cabinets and overdosing to fueling the addiction of family or friends.

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=396310

In response to the situation, the Obama administration announced last week that it will send 1,200 National Guard troops to provide patrol along the southwest border. While this effort is notable, will it be able to stem the tide of drugs flowing into the country and the cash flowing back out?

The violence in Juarez is not relegated simply between those on either side of the law. There is significant infighting among the drug cartels and killings are starting to target more civilians and Americans. Consulate workers are being shot in broad daylight, grooms mutilated on their wedding day and students are under fire.

Despite the escalating violence, more than 50,000 pedestrians cross between El Paso and Juarez each day. El Paso has remarkably remained immune to the bloodshed. In fact, so far this year the city has seen only one murder. Some note that this fact is simply due to the ease in which people access the U.S. interstate system within El Paso and quickly leave town.

Such highways are being put to good use as cartels are on the move. Traffickers tend to take I-20 east to Atlanta, which has become a hub for drug transfers. The other option is I-10 west to Phoenix, a city that has become known as the “Kidnapping Capital of the U.S.”
“What we’re seeing is a rise in Mexican drug traf?cking organizations [DTOs],” Rusty Payne of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency told Maclean’s, “in more and more places where you wouldn’t expect it.” In 2009, the Department of Justice declared Mexican cartels to be the “greatest organized crime threat to the United States.”
 

Scope of the Problem

Of the 2.3 million inmates in prisons and jails in the U.S. in 2006, 1.5 million met the diagnostic criteria for substance abuse or addiction, as defined by the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM IV). Another 458,000, while not meeting the strict DSM IV criteria, had histories of drug abuse; were under the influence of alcohol or drugs at the time of their crime; committed their offense in order to get money to buy drugs; were incarcerated for a drug or alcohol-related violation; or some combination of these. The two groups comprise 85 percent of the U.S. prison population.

According to the 144-page CASA report, in 2006, alcohol and drugs were significant factors in all crime, involved in:

• 78 percent of violent crimes
• 83 percent of property crimes
• 77 percent of public order, immigration, or weapon offenses, and probation/parole violations
Interestingly, and contrary to public opinion, only 2 percent of all inmates were incarcerated for marijuana possession as their only or controlling offense.

In 2005, federal, state and local governments spent $74 billion on incarceration, court proceedings, probation and parole for substance-involved adult and juvenile offenders. Yet less than 1 percent of that amount, or $632 million, went toward prevention and treatment.

Drug Abuse Treatment Programs in the Bureau of Prisons

More than two decades ago, the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) implemented its current drug abuse treatment strategy. In the intervening years, the strategy has changed and grown, reflecting advances in treatment and prevention. Some would say it’s still not enough, but there are the realities of budgets and other factors that come into play. Still, what’s available today to inmates with substance abuse who want to get clean is incrementally better than what was available before – or available to them when they were on the street. Not everyone who wants and needs substance abuse treatment during their incarceration will be able to receive treatment. That’s another reality. Programs fill up, budgets are limited, and a prisoner’s window to get into a treatment program may pass because of date conflicts or other factors.

• Drug Abuse Education – While not a substance abuse treatment program, drug abuse education is available to help encourage offenders with a history of substance abuse to review their past choices and how those have negatively affected them psychologically, socially, and physically. During drug abuse education, the inmate learns about the cycle of drug use and crime, and is shown compelling evidence of how continued drug use will lead to a perpetuation of criminality and related negative consequences. The purpose of drug abuse education is to motivate appropriate offender into wanting to participate in nonresidential or residential drug abuse treatment programs, as needed, while they are incarcerated.

o Criteria for participation – Upon entry into the BOP, prisoners are assessed to see if they’re suitable for drug abuse education. Criteria for participation include evidence that the offender has a prolonged history of drug or alcohol use, evidence that drug or alcohol use contributed to the offense for which they are incarcerated, a judicial recommendation for treatment, or a violation of community supervision as a result of alcohol or drug use.

o Referrals – Upon completion of the drug abuse education program, appropriate inmates are referred for nonresidential drug abuse treatment or residential drug abuse treatment.

o Inmate participation – In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, 23,230 inmates participated in the drug abuse education program, according to the BOP Annual Report for 2008 (http://www.bop.gov/inmate_programs/docs/annual_report_fy_2008.pdf). For FY 2010, per a Department of Justice BOP report (http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/policy/10budget/justice.pdf), an estimated 23,400 are expected to participate in the program.

• Nonresidential Drug Abuse Treatment – A flexible program designed to meet the treatment needs of all inmates, the nonresidential drug abuse treatment program is available at every BOP facility. It is offered through the Psychology Services Department and is staffed with at least one drug abuse program psychologist and one treatment specialist.

o Admission criteria – There are specific populations targeted for nonresidential drug abuse treatment. These include those inmates who have a low-level or relatively minor substance abuse impairment; those with a drug use disorder who don’t have sufficient time to complete an intensive residential drug abuse treatment program; inmates with longer sentences who need treatment and are awaiting placement in the residential program; those inmates with a drug abuse history who did not participate in the residential treatment program and are preparing for community transition; and inmates who completed the unit-based component of the residential program and are required to continue with “aftercare” treatment upon their return to the general prison population.

o Program specifics – The nonresidential drug abuse treatment program uses the cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) treatment model. Length of treatment is a minimum of 12 weeks for a minimum of 4 hours per week (although, depending on the needs of the inmate and the ability of the facility to provide the services, these minimums may be increased). Aftercare treatment consists of a minimum of 1-1/2 hours per week for 12 months or until the inmate is transferred to a residential reentry center. A drug abuse treatment specialist, under the supervision of a psychologist, develops an individualized treatment plan based on an inmate’s psychosocial assessment. Self-help 12-step groups, such as Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous, are available to inmates to support the nonresidential treatment program regimen.

o Inmate participation – In FY 2008, 14,208 inmates participated in the nonresidential drug abuse treatment program. For FY 2010, an estimated 14,500 inmates are expected to participate.

• Residential Drug Abuse Treatment Program (RDAP) – The residential drug abuse treatment program (RDAP), is intensive drug abuse treatment provided to inmates diagnosed with a drug use disorder (based on DSM IV criteria). A drug program coordinator (doctoral-level psychologist) supervises the treatment staff. The ratio of treatment staff to inmates is 1 to 24. RDAP inmate participants are housed together in a treatment unit separate from the general prison population.

o Program specifics – Treatment is provided for a minimum of 500 hours over the course of 9 to 12 months. The CBT treatment model used targets major criminal/drug-using risk factors (including pro-criminal and anti-social behaviors, attitudes, values, and beliefs). It does so by reducing anti-social peer associations, increasing inmates’ self-control, self-management, and problem-solving skills, and by promoting positive relationships; ending drug use; replacing unhealthy behaviors, such as lying and aggression, with pro-social alternatives. Treatment also includes the development of a transition plan specific to the inmate.

o Inmate participation – In FY 2008, 17,523 inmates participated in RDAP. In FY 2010, an estimated 17,500 are projected to participate.

• Community Transition Drug Abuse Treatment – Inmates who participate in RDAP are required to participate in the Community Transition Drug Abuse Treatment program. This ensures a continuum of treatment/supervision until the inmate is transferred to a residential reentry center. Research has shown the benefit of continuing treatment and supervision in decreasing the chances of relapse or other behavioral problems and in reducing the likelihood of return to custody.

o Program specifics – Using residential reentry centers, the BOP places inmates in community-based settings prior to their release from custody in order to prepare them for life in the community and to help them find employment. Such centers provide supervised, structured environment, and support in job placement, counseling, and other services. During this time, the inmate must continue to participate in the drug abuse treatment regimen through community transition drug abuse treatment. Failure to do so results in a return to custody and loss of residential program incentives (early release).

o Co-occurring disorders – Since FY 2008, the BOP has been providing treatment for offenders with co-occurring disorders (such as drug use and mental illness) during this transition period. Sex offenders with substance use disorders receive community transition treatment combining supervision with continued drug abuse treatment while residing in the residential reentry center.
o Inmate participation – In FY 2008, 15,406 inmates participated in the community transition drug abuse treatment program. In FY 2010, an estimated 15,400 inmates are expected to participate.

• Early Release – Federal law allows the BOP to grant up to 1 year off a non-violent offender’s prison term for successful completion of the RDAP. In FY 2008, 4,800 prisoners received a reduction in their term of imprisonment based on this law. From the implementation of the provision in June 1995 through 2008, a total of 32,618 inmates received such a reduction.

Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in Principles of Drug Abuse Treatment for Criminal Justice Populations (http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/cj.html), lists 13 principles that are essential to a successful drug abuse treatment program for incarcerated individuals.

1. Drug addiction is a brain disease that affects behavior.
2. Recovery from drug addiction requires effective treatment, followed by management of the problem over time.
3. Treatment must last long enough to produce stable behavioral changes.
4. Assessment is the first step in treatment.
5. Tailoring the services to meet the needs of the individual is an effective part of drug abuse treatment programs for criminal justice populations. (Note: Incarcerated women have high rates of substance abuse, mental disorders, and other health problems.)
6. Drug use during treatment should be carefully monitored.
7. Treatment should target factors that are associated with criminal behavior.
8. Criminal justice supervision should incorporate treatment planning for drug-abusing offenders, and treatment providers should be aware of correctional supervision requirements.
9. Continuity of care is essential for drug abusers re-entering the community.
10. A balance of rewards and sanctions encourages prosocial behavior and treatment participation.
11. Offenders with co-occurring drug abuse and mental health problems often require an integrated treatment approach.
12. Medications are an important part of treatment for many drug abusing offenders. (Note: FDA-approved medications such as methadone and buprenorphine (Suboxone, Naltrexone) may be useful for inmates with heroin/opiate abuse. Disulfiram (Antabuse), Acamprosate, or Naltrexone may be prescribed for the treatment of alcohol abuse. New medications, when approved by the FDA, will likely be added for the treatment of various types of substance abuse.)
13. Treatment planning for many drug abusing offenders who are living in or re-entering the community should include strategies to prevent and treat serious, chronic medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and tuberculosis. (Note: The prevalence of AIDS is 5 times higher among incarcerated offenders than the general population.)

NIDA/BOP Goal: Decrease Relapse and Reduce Recidivism

NIDA and BOP, working together in the development and implementation of effective substance abuse treatment programs for incarcerated individuals, have as a common goal to decrease rates of relapse and to reduce the likelihood of return to custody for substance-related offenses.

This includes refining and adapting substance abuse treatment programs in America’s prisons to help inmates with substance abuse and co-occurring disorders to become educated about addiction, learn new coping mechanisms, wean off cravings through appropriate use of medication, prepare for re-entry into the community, learning prosocial behavior and better communication skills – in essence, incorporating NIDA’s 13 principles for drug abuse treatment for criminal justice populations.
Providing such treatment still holds inmates accountable for their crimes, while laying the foundation for their successful return to society. The benefits to society are enormous as well, including significant reductions in crime and its associated societal costs.

Joseph A. Califano, Jr., CASA’s chairman and president and former U.S. Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare (http://www.alcoholdrughelp.org/2010/02/27/alcohol-and-drugs-prisons-new-report/), said that “The United States has less than five percent of the world’s population and we consume two-thirds of the world’s illegal drugs and incarcerate almost a quarter of the world’s prisoners, more than eight of ten of whom have some substance involvement.”

Since research proves that effective substance abuse treatment reduces relapse and recidivism, there’s no argument that continuing and improving substance abuse treatment programs in America’s prisons will reap a positive benefit.
In 2002, NIDA funded the Criminal Justice Drug Abuse Treatment Studies (CJ-DATS) (http://www.ibr.tcu.edu/projects/crimjust/cjdats.html) cooperative agreement, selecting nine National Research Centers to study current drug treatment practices and outcomes in correctional settings and to examine strategies for improving treatment services for drug-involved offenders.

The nine National Research Centers include:

• Brown University
• University of California at Los Angeles
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Kentucky
• University of Miami
• National Development and Research Institutes
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• University of Maryland

A key objective of this landmark project is the establishment of science-based evidence and interventions (including TCU mapping and enhanced counseling) for the role of corrections-based treatment in reducing drug use and crime-related costs to society. Phase I of the CJ-DATS project period was September 2002 to August 2008. Phase II of CJ-DATS is from September 2008 to August 2013.

The good news is that there is progress. The bad news is that it will take time for any such programs (currently in place or improvements contemplated and/or implemented) to begin to show the kind of dramatic results research indicates is possible.

Santini alleges that the Saints attempted to conceal the 2009 theft of approximately one hundred thirty tablets of the prescription drug Vicodin from its training facility in Metarie by a coach. Santini also alleges that another coach was given an inappropriate amount of the drug – an amount that could signal drug abuse. No players have been implicated in the incident. Santini, the Saints’ former security director and retired FBI agent, resigned last year.

Vicodin (a.k.a. hydrocodone) is the most widely prescribed painkiller in the US and is highly addictive. As an authorized distributor of the painkiller, the Saints are required by law to account for all pills under its control, ensure that they are only dispensed when prescribed by a doctor, and safeguard against unlawful possession or theft. Theft of Vicodin can be a felony.

When allegations of prescription drug mishandling are made, the DEA’s diversion investigators examine whether security procedures and record keeping for narcotics handling complied with the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). However, mishandling of narcotics can also be a state crime; Louisiana’s Jefferson Parish has yet to begin its own investigation of the matter.

The Saints organization has denied the allegations made in the lawsuit and claim that Santini is attempting to extort money from his former employer. Reports indicate that Santini demanded up to two million dollars from the team in advance of the suit.

Prior to quitting, Santini allegedly had conversations with team trainers wherein he encouraged them to refuse to go along with the cover-up of the theft. Transcripts of the taped conversations, which were turned over to FBI investigators prior to his resignation, are included as part of the suit. In court documents, Santini also describes a video showing a Saints coach taking keys from the trainer’s office and using them to access the team’s drug locker. The lawsuit alleges that this same coach had a medical condition that required treatment with Vicodin and that his reliance on the drug had grown beyond what could be satisfied by his doctor’s prescriptions. Although not named in the suit, Coach Sean Payton has issued a statement denying that he had stolen the pills or was addicted to Vicodin.

Santini also claims that he was instructed by Saints GM Mickey Loomis to refrain from disclosing what he knew about the theft and it was his refusal to keep quiet that resulted in his resignation. The suit also claims that Loomis instructed employees to change logs prior to an NFL audit so that it would appear that all pills were accounted for or properly dispensed to players for legitimate medical reasons.

A Chron article reported on the find, including the ledgers agents found indicating the Gulf Cartel had already used the Katy operation to move $200 million in drug proceeds south of the border.

Low tech methods to move drug money appear to be working. Mexican and Colombian drug cartels are increasingly turning to this method of boxing up the cash and stashing it in a truck or car to drive it across one of the many border crossings.

According to current and former law enforcement officials, more agents and equipment should be devoted to the search for billions of dollars hidden in vehicles headed south, in addition to infiltrating the bulk smuggling operations. Considering the national debt the government has already incurred, can they afford this investment?

“It goes back to resources,“ said Steve McCraw, director of the Texas Department of Public Safety, in the Chron. “They don’t have enough inspectors to inspect all the loads they need to inspect going northbound. The priority’s been northbound, and, obviously, it makes it more difficult to impede the movement of bulk cash into Mexico.”

In recent months, there have been a series of large cash seizures in Houston, El Paso and Mexico City, but reports out of the Justice Department show that drug trafficking cartels are getting as much as $40 billion in profits out of the country every year.

For Thomas Creelman, he had reached a point where one bad move would eliminate his chance at recovery and land him within those walls. Superior Court Justice Lynda Templeton told Creelman, 24, that if he is able to stay clean and sober, he will stay out of custody.

Creelman pleaded guilty to robbing a cab driver on September 29, 2008. He apologized for his crime, assuring Templeton he was very clean.

As a result of his heavy crack addiction, Creelman launched a plot to rob a cab driver after receiving a free ride. Cab driver Tuohuti Majmaitijiang went to pick Creelman up and was led on a goose chase before an attempt was made to rob him of his money at knifepoint.

A struggle ensued that resulted in Majmaitijiang being superficially injured by the knife. The car also rolled, which resulted in Majmaitijiang trying to control the car. In the confusion, Creelman fled the scene, but was later caught by police. The monetary loss was $10.05 for the fare.

Creelman’s attorney claimed his client had sketchy recollections of the night of the events and while he was in custody, was not allowed access to any rehabilitation programs.

According to his attorney, Creelman is a crack cocaine addict and the botched robbery was an attempt to feed his addiction. Creelman had a previous conviction for attempted theft from another cab driver, as well as for court breaches, stolen property and drug trafficking.