Posts Tagged ‘pharmacy’

Not Another Sequel! “Drugstore Cowboy” Author James Fogle Arrested for Pharmacy Robbery (Again).

May 28, 2010
Drugstore Cowboy Author James Fogle

"Drugstore Cowboy" Author James Fogle

I have written about pharmacy robberies on these pages many times before, but this is a most interesting development…

Apparently Fogle and another man were caught mid-spree trying to liberate what has been described as “garbage cans full of drugs” from a Redmond (Washington) pharmacy.

For those who may not know (really?), James Fogle wrote what would become the critically acclaimed “Drugstore Cowboy” from his California prison cell in the 1970s. The book achieved some critical acclaim, and was later (in 1989) adapted for the silver screen by none other than Gus Van Sant.

I’m trying to decide what will be sadder, James possibly spending the rest of his life in prison, or the media using this story to obfuscate and confuse the recent surge in pharmacy robberies, which is fast-becoming one of the most serious aspects of the Painkiller Epidemic.

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More on Pharmacy Robbery at SWALLOW Blog:

For more on this story:

Wal-Mart Pharmacy Defrauded out of 9,000 Painkillers

May 6, 2010

Scranton, PA Woman accused of defrauding Wal-Mart Pharmacy of 9,000 painkillers

See… now this is something. I am not going to get into too many details right now (I will get into them here soon), but there are so many holes in the way Opiate/Opiod Prescription Painkillers (and prescriptions in general) are filled by pharmacies that it’s down-right embarrassing. You will meet more resistance cashing a payroll check at your average bank than you will filling a prescription for a powerful narcotic at most pharmacies.

“Sara L. Bubser, 54, deceived the pharmacy for eight years until someone at Walmart recently called the doctor to verify the orders…” —The Scranton Times-Tribune

Where to begin? Let’s see… Most pharmacies will not check your ID. They rely on “pharmacy technicians” too heavily.  And the DEA numbers that pharmacists and pharmacy technicians count on to demonstrate “authenticity”… are a cruel joke.

There are little-to-no standards for the design of prescription pads. Ditto with procedures for phoning and faxing in prescriptions. I could go on. What went wrong at this Wal-Mart Pharmacy in this case? There are few details so far…

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“Why Don’t You Just Shut the F*ck Up?”

March 16, 2009

shutthefuckup2

These words of wisdom were proffered to me not so long ago by a good friend of mine, Vince. And by good friend I mean someone who will tell you like it is. These types of people are rarer than you might think. Ask yourself how many of your friends fit this description.

What Vince meant by this is, “you have a pretty good life… and a lot to be thankful for… a lot to be grateful for… so quit bitching”. Take a minute, take a breath, and take stock of your own life. I bet you’ll come to pretty much the same conclusion.

Now, pick your chin up and get on with the rest of your day. And don’t forget to shut the fuck up.

Painkiller Epidemic Update: Painkillers Top Choice Among New Illicit Drug Users

September 9, 2008
Initiates for Specific Illicit Drugs among Persons Aged 12 or Older

2007 SAMHSA Study: Initiates for Specific Illicit Drugs among Persons Aged 12 or Older

According to findings from the latest National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), painkillers (OxyContin, MS Contin, Vicodin) are now the top drugs in use initiation” (also known as incidence or first-time use).

The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), in its 2007 survey, provides a variety of figures related to substance use initiation. Among the 2.7 million persons aged 12 or older surveyed, a staggering 2.1 million reported that the first illicit drugs they used were painkillers.

That figure puts painkillers above marijuana, and far above cocaine, ecstasy, heroin, and all other illicit drugs as “drugs of first use”.

Anyone need further evidence of a Painkiller Epidemic?

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Graphic courtesy of SAMHSA.

How long for OxyContin to kick in?

August 6, 2008

Those of you out there concerned and/or interested in this Painkiller Epidemic issue should spend some time surfing Web forums—like the one linked below.

Remember to crush thoroughly next time😉

– Mr. Blonde (anonymous poster)

Our youth are experimenting with dangerous prescription narcotics, largely due to their easy access, and turning to anonymous idiots on the Internet for advice on abusing them. This is how people die.

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Link to Bluelight, the Internet forum mentioned above.