Tag: drug abuse

The Government is Out to Get Me

The Attorney General, Jeff Sessions, is out to get me.  Well, maybe not me specifically, but anybody and everybody that is complying with the law in regards to drug prescribing and distribution.  What I just said is not paranoid hyperbole.

Sessions has designated 12 federal prosecutors to go to cities that have a high impact from the “opiod epidemic”.  These prosecutors are to seek and destroy anyone deemed to be prescribing opiod narcotics, and profiting from the process.  Their targets include doctors and other health care practitioners, pharmacists, hospitals, clinics and just about anybody or anything that is legally involved in the drug trade.

In his own words in a speech to the Columbus Police Academy in Ohio, he stated,  “If you are a doctor illegally prescribing opioid drugs for profit or a pharmacist letting these pills walk out the door… we are coming after you,” Sessions declared.  The Opioid Fraud and Abuse Detection Unit, as Sessions referred to the 12 attorneys, will … work in conjunction with the FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration and Health and Human Services to identify and arrest the violators.(2)

Now, why is that?  There have been drug crises ongoing in this country and most of the developed world in one form or another, forever.  Why would the government decide that the opioid epidemic is worthy of it’s attention, as opposed to, say, methamphetamine, peyote, heroine or marijuana?

Because of the Willie Sutton Syndrome.  The bank robber that replied that he robbed banks because that was where the money was.

You see, all of the aforementioned entities are regulated, licensed and insured out the wazoo.  Which means that they can be further regulated with licenses, permits, fines and the like.  To a point that money may actually be collected.

So, do you think the War on Drugs has produced anything of substance, yet?  No.  In fact, the only thing the War on Drugs has produced has been a dependent culture and extreme expense to the taxpayers for detention and incarceration, rehabilitation (failed and otherwise), dependent support, medical expenses and on and on.

But, are these legal entities actually responsible for the “opioid epidemic”?  Even the liberal New York Times doesn’t think so.  “… opioid addiction, now made more deadly by an influx of illicitly manufactured fentanyl and similar drugs.” (1)  Overwhelmingly, these drugs are obtained illegally.  They may be stolen, purchased on the street from nefarious sources or obtained by malingering (presenting false symptoms for the express purpose of obtaining these drugs).

It doesn’t matter, the government has finally realized that they are more likely to collect their fines from someone making a 6 figure income and dependent on said government for the “right ” to practice their vocation than someone that is on welfare.

One drug dealer’s opinion from your grumpy-drug-dealing Uncle/Brother Dave.

1.  https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/06/05/upshot/opioid-epidemic-drug-overdose-deaths-are-rising-faster-than-ever.html

2.  http://www.rollingstone.com/culture/news/jeff-sessions-targeting-doctors-profiting-off-opioid-epidemic-w495603

Hunting Fentanyl

August, 2016

I saw a patient tonight that was about 40 years old. He came in for other reasons, but in the interview, he said he was on a Fentanyl patch for chronic back pain. My patient commented that he went out in the woods this morning to put up his deer stand.

Fentanyl is a synthetic form of morphine. It is a mind altering substance, meaning that it clouds judgement, alters reaction time and just plain messes with the mind. Yeah, just like alcohol.

I can see it now. Come November my patient will come in from a hunting accident;

“I fell out of my deer stand and broke my neck.” or,

“I thought he looked like a deer so I shot him. I didn’t realize that it was my Brother-in-law.”

or some other ridiculous story.

So, these Doctors (this is not an unusual occurrence) are sending him out to work as a welder and hunt while this trans-dermal patch makes sure he has sufficient narcotic in his body to relieve his pain 24/7

I’m often embarrassed by my colleagues.

Your grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.

Weary

Just Like Home

July 2017

In the mid 80s, we were taught about a new concept in labor and delivery. Birthing centers or birthing rooms were all the rage (and still are) in an attempt to provide a more comfortable, natural environment for the delivering Mom and family. The old sterile labor and delivery rooms were dolled up to look like middle class bedrooms or living rooms. Food, music, family and all the accouterments that one would expect in the home village.

And, last week, I took (for the 16th time in my career) my ACLS certification course. In the curriculum, there is now a section on dealing with death. The new concept is a death counseling room that does not look or feel like a sterile, cold clinical exam room should be provided in which the physician can inform the family of the unfortunate demise of their loved one.

So, I have to believe that the concept is valid. When I came back to work, I proposed that we, too, try to put the patient in a comfortable , familiar home-like room for the ED exam and treatment. Like cribs. You know, crack houses. Filthy rooms with trash littering all over the floor, old dirty used instruments and condoms scattered around, in the sink and on the instrument tray. Shit and pee in the corner. Just like home.

Your grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.

Weary

Drug Deal Gone Good

2/4/2018

A guy was on a motorcycle, evading capture by the county sheriff’s deputies for suspected drug offenses.  In his hasty, not-so-reckless and excessively speedy operation of the vehicle, he wrecked the motorcycle which he had stolen and ran on foot to evade capture.  He jumped a fence, lost his footing, slid and rolled down a hill to the edge of the interstate highway.  He jumped up and tried to run across the freeway.

Yup, tried.

A car, traveling at about 70 mph and he collided.  Not a full impact.  The passenger mirror hit his elbow and left torso in a glancing blow.

As the deputy inventoried his possessions, they found brass knuckles, a loaded gun, methamphetamine and wads of cash.

This was a drug deal that didn’t go well for the guy but did go well for everyone else.

But, he does get the opportunity to add to his collection of big house tats.

From your grumpy Uncle/Brother Dave.

Weary

Saving the Tax Payers Dollars

2/3/2018

The use of radio-controlled-ankle-collar home incarceration versus jail has been around for a while and is, to say the least, controversial.  They, the people responsible for these programs, claim a daily cost of $700 for the ankle collar and $3,000 for the jail time.

First, I want to know why it costs $700/day for the ankle-collar when a computer and a GPS satellite are doing all the work?

But, the other issue I have is in regards to my first patient of the day.  This guy was given permission to come to the hospital from his parole officer about 10 am.  He showed up, with a complaint of chest pain (in a healthy 30 y/o) at 11 pm.  He admitted that he went to visit his son during the 13-hour unaccounted for interval.

And, he wasn’t wearing an ankle collar.  His tests showed that he had also been doing something other than visiting his son, like doing meth.

I guess it is good that we are saving money on these scum bags using radio-controlled-ankle-collar home incarceration, even though they circumvent the system. No matter what the system.  I could only guess how many positive drug tests I’ve seen over the years in jailed patients.  So, $700/day versus $3,000/day to use drugs while serving time is saving the taxpayers dollars.

From your grumpy Uncle/Brother, Dave.

Weary