Pennsylvania Lawyer Plus Painkillers Equals Arrest

Oh the pain!

Fentanyl and oxycodone are strong prescription opiates used to relieve moderate or severe pain. Fentanyl, which is stronger than oxycodone, is reportedly about one thousand times stronger than heroin. For the vast majority of patients, these painkillers are effective and are used safely. Unfortunately, addiction problems due occur, and those who have become addicted include lawyers.

The latest is reported to be a lawyer from Scranton, Pennsylvania, Robert Foley. He was recently arrested for fraudulently obtaining painkillers from 33 different doctors. The cost to feed his habit was approximately $3,000 per month. According to court papers, Foley became addicted to pain killers in 2008 after suffering a back injury.

 

The story is here and here.

Despite their pain killing properties, opioid drugs also can induce euphoria by affecting the brain regions that mediate what we perceive as pleasure. This feeling is often intensified for those who abuse opioids when administered by routes other than those recommended. For example, some addicts take OxyContin snorting it or injecting it in order to enhance its euphoric effects. Withdrawal symptoms from opiates include runny nose, sweating, headache, muscle pain cramps, fever, twitching, vomiting, diarrhea, insomnia, and fatigue.

Addiction to any drug – even prescription painkillers - is a brain disease. Fortunately, like other chronic diseases, the disease of addiction can be treated effectively.

Even though Foley must feel like this is the end of the world, people have rebounded from worse than this and gone on to achieve great things.

Return to Substance Abuse CLE

Meth in West Virginia? Yes, and an Attorney Caught Dealing!

Unbelievable. A 32-year-old attorney from Ripley, West Virginia has been arrested for trying to sell methamphetamines. She smoked some meth, then tried to sell some to a police informant. Well you know what? That is a no-no in any city, county or state – and she was busted. The story is here.


What is equally amazing are the on again, off again meth related charges that Sullivan has faced. See here and here.

Meth is a white, odorless, bitter-tasting crystalline powder that easily dissolves in water or alcohol. It is often taken in combination with other drugs such as cocaine and marijuana and, like heroin and cocaine, can be inhaled, injected, ingested, or smoked. Meth is classified as a central nervous system stimulant drug. Street meth is referred to by many names, such as speed, tweak, uppers, glass, bikers’ coffee, poor man's cocaine, chicken feed, and stove top. Methamphetamine hydrochloride, which is meth in clear chunky crystal form resembling ice, can be inhaled by smoking. This “crystal meth” is also referred to as ice, crank, crystal, tina, and glass.

Meth is similar in chemical structure to amphetamine. It was first synthesized in 1919 as a synthetic substitute for ephedrine. Although meth can be prescribed, its medical uses are limited. It is sometimes used in very low doses for the treatment of narcolepsy (a sleep disorder) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The doses that are prescribed are much lower than those typically abused. Because it is so easily abused, meth is classified as a Schedule II drug, which means that it is only available through a doctor’s prescription that cannot be refilled.

Meth acts by increasing the release of dopamine in the brain, which leads to feelings of euphoria. However, this pleasure high is followed by a low or "crash" that often leads to increased use of the drug. With continued use, some users may have difficulty feeling any pleasure at all, especially from natural rewards. Long-term meth abuse results in many damaging physical and psychiatric effects, such as: addiction, violent behavior, anxiety, confusion, insomnia, psychotic features (e.g. paranoia, hallucinations, delusions), and cardiovascular problems (e.g. rapid heart rate, irregular heartbeat, increased blood pressure, stroke). Essentially, meth acts by changing how the brain works. It also speeds up many functions in the body.
Smoking meth, which results in the drug acting quickly on the brain, has become more common in recent years. This has amplified meth’s addiction potential and adverse health consequences.

Approximately 10 million people 12 years and older have abused meth in their lifetimes. It has been reported that in 2005, approximately 500,000 people were current users. Abuse has been especially noteworthy in certain areas of the country with indicators suggesting particular problems in Hawaii, California and the West Coast states, rural areas of the West and, more recently, the Midwest.

Return to Substance Abuse CLE

Utah Attorney Tries To Buy Cocaine!

Drugs in Utah? North Salt Lake City Attorney David Michael Nielson thought so. On June 27, 2010, Nielson was arrested for trying to buy cocaine. Besides North Salt Lake City, Nielson also worked as a contract attorney for West Bountiful City.

Here is the story from the Desert News.

An undercover drug operation was underway near a mall when Nielson asked an undercover cop if he could buy cocaine. That night, 18 other people were arrested, too. Why did Nielson suspect the undercover cop was selling cocaine? Who knows, there must be a certain look or body language that druggies identify.

At any rate, Nielson, who is 54, indicated he would resign, and he was suspended from the West Bountiful City gig.

Attorneys abuse illegal substances, just like everyone else – even government lawyers in their fifties.




Link Back to Substance Abuse CLE

Sioux Falls Lawyer Resigns From Bar After DUI Arrest

Where to put this one? It could go here or over at the Drunk Politician Blog.

Mary Ann Giebink was a lawyer from Sioux Falls running as a Democrat for a seat in the South Dakota House of Representatives. But in May, Ms. Giebink may have had a little too much to drink and decided to get behind the wheel of her car and drive. A couple of accounts are here and here.

Her driving caught the attention of police, who tried to pull her over. Perhaps because she didn’t want bad publicity spoiling her career or hurting her chances in the election, she decided that she didn’t want to be pulled over. So she hit the gas! A high speed chase ensued reaching speeds of 100 mph. After about a minute she lost control and slid into a ditch. She was apprehended and charged with drunken driving and fleeing the police. A drug charge was added when police found her to be in possession of marijuana.



With the charges pending, Ms. Giebink resigned from the state bar.
For Ms. Giebink, it must seem like the end of the world. However attorneys in worse trouble have rehabilitated themselves and returned to the practice of law. It can be done.

Return to Substance Abuse CLE

Washington Lawyer Arrested for DUI and Drug Possession

A lawyer running for prosecutor in Clallam County, Washington was arrested on suspicion of DUI and drug charges and he allegedly pulled out a knife at the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. The story is here and here.

A ticket agent apparently called authorities reporting a man with a floppy hat and Hawaiian shirt had a knife. The knife-wielding man was none other than David Fox, an attorney running for prosecutor. He got into his truck but was pulled over by police. According to the police report, Fox was drunk and had marijuana, a pipe and prescription pills for which he had no prescription.
Fox allegedly tried to pull the “lawyer card,” by telling the officer that he was an attorney running for office.

A Port of Seattle police report says a ticket agent called authorities late Sunday to say a man wearing a floppy hat and Hawaiian shirt had repeatedly pulled out a knife and was asking "weird questions."

He was taken into custody but released from King County without bail when no charges had been filed within 72 hours of his arrest. See here.


The King County prosecutor’s office said charges weren’t filed because the office was awaiting the results of a toxicology test.

Meanwhile, after being busted, Fox decided not to run for prosecutor after all. Who would vote for a dope-smoker who is supposed to uphold the law? Instead, Fox intends to run for Washington’s 5th Congressional District. Huh? Maybe that says something about Congress.








Link Back to Substance Abuse CLE

Utah Attorney Struggles With Prescription Drugs

An attorney from St. George, Utah was arrested for prescription drug fraud last month. The story is here. Michael Lastowski is charged with using different doctors to obtain a controlled substance.

Lastowski allegedly purchased two similar drugs using prescriptions from different doctors. But neither doctor was aware of the prescription from the other doctor. Police said it is against the law to fail to tell a doctor that you already have a prescription from another doctor. Police also said that the prescriptions had been altered.

Prescription drug abuse is taking a prescription medication that is not prescribed for you, or taking it for reasons or in dosages other than as prescribed. Of course, the abuse of prescription drugs can produce serious health effects, including addiction. Once addicted, the abuser may resort to extreme and sometimes unlawful measures to obtain more of the drug.

Lastowski is innocent until proven guilty. But the fact pattern here would illustrate this point.

A nifty government fact sheet about the abuse of prescription drugs can be found here.

"One pill makes you . . .'



Link Back to Substance Abuse CLE - California Approved MCLE

Texas Judge Arrested For Driving While Intoxicated - Again

According to KGBT-TV Channel 4 ("Action 4 News"), a Texas municipal judge from Mercedes was recently arrested for his third drunk driving incident.

The judge, Rogelio Garcia, was pulled over after state troopers caught him speeding. He failed a field sobriety test, and then refused to submit to a breath test. The troopers said he appeared highly intoxicated. Because this is his third arrest for DWI, he faces a felony DWI this time around.

Garcia was first arrested for DWI in 1984. He was convicted and got two years probation. His second arrest was in 1995. For that DWI he was convicted in 1996 and received one year probation and a $350 fine.

In the Marine Corps, one DWI is called an alcohol related incident. It is an episode of substance abuse. Three such incidents and the abuser will be screened for alcoholism. This in no way implies or suggests that the judge here is alcohol dependent. But just maybe he should reflect upon his conduct. For the rest of us, we can reflect upon what three arrests would do to our families and professional life.




Link Back to Substance Abuse CLE - Approved Online Provider of California MCLE