From the 3/4 Show – Withdrawal, Addiction, Death and Destruction – The Sackler Family

My thanks to Geraldine Burns, Jennifer Roeder and David Knight for bringing a greater awareness of the benzodiazepine family of drugs to the radio show Sunday night.  The benzodiazepines include the generic names diazepam, alprazolam, clonazepam, lorazepam, temazepam, triazolam, chlordiazepoxide, and about twenty additional drugs in the family.  Most people still refer to the family by their original brand names; Librium, Valium, Ativan, Xanax, Klonopin, etc. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_benzodiazepines

There are a number of web sites available to help people navigate the dangers the benzodiazepines offer too often.  http://www.benzosupport.org/ (support the FDA petition)   In 1979, Senator Edward Kennedy had a Congressional hearing on the benzodiazepines and twenty years ago a detailed paper was published detailing the introduction of Xanax.  http://www.benzo.org.uk/xanax2.htm   The benzodiazepine family of drugs is another example of “not safe as prescribed”.

Shockingly, starting with the mass marketing of Librium and Valium in the early 1960′s, the problems the family of benzodiazepines has created in this country is well documented.  A conservative number of 25% of the individuals who take the benzodiazepines for a long period of time will develop physical dependency and severe withdrawal symptoms.  Those on alprazolam will face over a 50% possibility of sickness when trying to stop taking the drug.

Geraldine, Jennifer and David all helped emphasize the dangers and reality of a phenomena that has remained for almost 50 years and quietly suppressed.  Over 100 million prescriptions are written yearly for a benzodiazepine drug and the human and economic damages from the drugs could be extrapolated into the billions of dollars.

I discovered an unbelievable reality in doing research for the show.  Arthur Sackler was considered the mastermind of bringing Valium to America.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_M._Sackler   The ingenious marketing behind Valium offered a panacea for both the doctor (money) and patient (hope). 

Arthur Sackler’s two younger brothers, Mortimer and Raymond started Purdue Pharma which brought OxyContin into every community in North America.  The damage and destruction since the introduction of OxyContin is well documented http://banoxycontin.com

The Sackler family is well known for their philanthropy in terms of donating to medical institutions, museums and education.  Even Arthur Sackler’s daughter, Elizabeth has attempted to hide the origins of the money she donates with. http://lib.stanford.edu/women-art-revolution/bio-elizabeth-sackler

It is ironic to this radio show host that a single family in the course of over 50 years could be responsible for so much damage to so many families and think that their contributions can erase the memories of so many victims.

It appears that the elitist followers of art and education are not very bright.  The silence continues.

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From the 2/26 Show – Florida Journalism – Waiting for the Day of Enlightenment

For an unexplained reason, too many journalists in Florida continue to support the marketing hoax of the legal narcotics.  On Feb 12th, an article in the Tampa Bay Times castigated a pharmacy for not taking greater safeguards for a drug deal (90 OxyContin and 180 oxycodone).  http://www.tampabay.com/news/health/law-doesnt-require-id-to-pick-up-prescription-drugs/1215058   There was no mention of the horrible medical care the gentleman was receiving who was facing severe withdrawal if he did not receive his narcotics in a timely fashion. 

On Feb 20th, NBC 2 from the Fort Myers/Naples area had an expose lambasting pharmacists who did not want to be the middleman for a narcotics deal.  http://www.nbc-2.com/story/16974539/2012/02/20/nbc2-investigates-persciptions-denied    The television station featured a patient who also received horrible medical care for a condition that competent doctors would not suggest large doses of debilitating narcotics for.   The on air anchor during the broadcast equally displayed her ignorance on the epidemic.

Fortunately, writers around North America are understanding the epidemic and it’s root cause.   John Fauber, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, recently revealed the massive marketing ploy coordinated by the pain industry, drug companies, The Federation of Medical Boards, http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/painkiller-boom-fueled-by-networking-dp3p2rn-139609053.html  and a phony think tank that was revealed in a previous John Fauber article. http://www.jsonline.com/watchdog/watchdogreports/119130114.html

Recently, the Ontario Province has stopped paying for OxyContin, except in limited exceptions.   http://www.ottawacitizen.com/health/OxyContin+disaster/6201500/story.html  We finally have a government agency stepping forward with understanding the “hoax of OxyContin”.

Guy Taylor, supported by the Fund for Investigative Journalism detailed the complicity of the DEA in order for the drug companies to increase the legal narcotic production dramatically over recent years. http://politics.salon.com/2011/10/11/as_abuse_mounted_dea_boosted_painkiller_supply/

Marianne Skolek of Salem-News.com has written for a number of years revealing the connections that Purdue Pharma have used to foster the hoax of narcotics for chronic pain.   http://www.salem-news.com/by_author.php?reporter=Marianne%20Skolek

ProPublica recently published an article on the connection between drug company money and faculty members at the University California Davis Medical School and the Utah School of Medicine. http://www.propublica.org/article/two-leaders-in-pain-treatment-have-long-ties-to-drug-industry

It is clear that the writer from the Tampa Bay Times and the journalist and anchor people from NBC 2 continue to be influenced by the multimillion dollar expenditures documented by previous exemplary efforts by their contemporaries.

It is the radio shows hope that the management of the Tampa Bay Times and NBC 2 encourage their employees to become more aware of the community and economic burden the unhindered distribution of the drugs are creating on a daily basis.  More reporters are becoming educated, but unfortunately the state that has suffered the most damage has the slowest learners.

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From the 2/19 Show – A Cultural and Social Revolution – The Drugging of America

My thanks to the eminent expert in America, Dr. Peter Breggin, for joining me Sunday night.  Dr. Breggin has been speaking out for a number of years against the masterful marketing and money generated by convincing America that drugging our citizens makes sense.  I encourage all to visit Dr. Breggin’s website. http://breggin.com/

Dr. Breggin helped this radio show host finally summarize our challenge as Americans.  We have entered into a period of history in which we are drugging our children, senior citizens and everyone in between beyond the Orwellian imagination.  In my lifetime, I am witnessing a social and cultural transformation on how a society views mind altering drugs.

Our forefathers witnessed the destruction heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, etc. could do to a society and at least made the drugs illegal and more difficult to obtain.  OxyContin, Ritalin, Adderall and a myriad of legal chemical similarities mimic the effects of the illegal drugs.  The newer entities have ingeniously been brought to our streets courtesy of the drug company executives and complicit “experts” within the medical industry.

Marijuana has become accepted within many demographics in our country and the majority of reports I receive are only intellectual damage to our most precious resource, the youth of America.  Marijuana and the myriad of additional drugs creating so much damage to our families and communities have been sold as beneficial medical entities with only antidotal evidence.  A mother on the radio show Sunday night said it best: “the success stories that she hears are the ones in which people have stopped taking the drugs”.

The sane and rational individuals understand that “money” is the cause for the growth of the distribution of the legal drugs.  The pharmaceutical complex continues to advertise fairy tales and increase the production of the legal narcotics and psychotropic drugs.  The increasing distribution is costing this country billions of dollars in negative outcomes that every business person and taxpayer should be concerned about.

The radio show asks the question how long can a country survive if every man, woman and child is convinced a drug is beneficial for whatever mental challenge or whim they want to satisfy?  How long can a community and country remain strong with the incredible economic and social damage too many drugs bring?

This could be my last blog and I will rest comfortably.  This blog is the radio shows shining moment.  Our country is experiencing a cultural and social revolution on the acceptance of drugs in our society.  How long will our country survive the burden of having citizens taking mind altering drugs from birth to grave.  How much more damage are we going to allow the psychologically, emotionally and physically damaging legal drugs do to our communities before it is too late to lose a country’s basic fabric and principles?

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From the 2/12 Show – Dear Abby – My Advice – Stick to Love

My regular reader of the blog knows I sometimes have a tendency to write about something that was not actually on Sunday night’s show.  For review, I do want to thank Congressman Robert Dold – 10th District Illinois for the time he spent with me. Erich Curnow writer for Examiner.com, Michael Palladini, author and Paul Keith, Consumer Energy Solutions create equal appreciation from me for a great show.  Our loyal listener Keith from Pittsburgh updated us on his 84 year old grandmother who takes methadone and Adderall daily and drives a golf cart within her retirement community.

Dear Abby has been a mainstay in America’s newspapers since 1956. http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/   The original Dear Abby was Pauline Phillips and for a number of years her daughter Jeanne Phillips has carried on the tradition of offering common sense and moral advice.

In Wednesday’s column, Dear Abby stepped away from marriage problems, infidelity, neighbor hanky-pank, and “grandfathers new friend” to giving advice about prescription drugs.

A reader asked,  “At what point is a person considered to be addicted to prescription drugs”?  Unfortunately, Abby gave the exact answer every drug company executive enjoys hearing:  “When the person increases the dosage beyond what has been prescribed, lies about it and/or tries to get the drugs by devious means”.

Abby completely missed the “legitimate patient” who wakes up every morning suffering from the withdrawal effects of the drugs until they get their morning fix.  The definitions of dependency and addiction are drug company fostered explanations.  Abby should have also explained dependency in which a person has become physically, mentally and emotionally chained to the drug.

Tens of thousands of people have died from prescription drug overdoses and Abby placated the drug companies with her answer.  I can’t wait for someone to ask Abby about “psuedoaddiction” which means people only appear addicted because their medical needs are not being met, http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Pseudoaddiction

My advice to Dear Abby – “Stick to Love” until you get a better understanding on the increasing drug culture in our country that is affecting every community in America.

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From the 2/5 Show – The Florida Society of Pain Management Providers (FLSPMP) are Becoming Desperate

This week’s blog represents my opening dialog for this Sunday’s show (2/12).  It also gives me a chance to thank Congressman Robert Dold – 10th District Illinois for the interview that will play shortly after the 9:30 pm break this Sunday.  I encourage all to listen to the interview Sunday night.

It appears the (FLSPMP) are becoming increasingly desperate in maintaining the money train of legal narcotics in our state.  On Monday they created this press release:  “Many Florida Pharmacists Deny Pain Patients Properly Prescribed Meds”   http://www.marketwatch.com/story/pain-clinics-pharmacies-deny-pain-meds-to-patients-2012-02-01    

As a pharmacist, I am extremely proud to share this press release.   My profession has started to take a lead in the opioid fiasco.   They are stepping forward and saying “no” to the over distribution of too many drugs onto our streets.   As more pharmacists say no, this will continue to put pressure on the independent pharmacies to scrutinize each prescription carefully.  The independent pharmacy’s have become the “go to place” in Florida for the legal narcotics.  The independent pharmacist remains the last bastion of hope for the pain management drug mavens.  The chain pharmacist’s are acting in unison to help stop the distribution.

The press release included some desperate statements including this one:  ” There is no legitimate reason to deny a patient their medications when the patient presents a valid, verifiable and properly executed prescription issued by a duly licensed physician (licensed by both the State of Florida and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration) along with photo identification.”

It appears that the majority of pharmacists understand the dangers of the legal narcotics.  Pharmacists understand that the “Standard of Care” the (FLSPMP) refers to has become the “Negligence of Care” for too many innocent victims who went to their doctor in good faith.

The statistics of the damage and destruction from the over distribution of the legal narcotics are documented.  The benefits from the legal narcotics rely on personal testimonials from people who are facing severe withdrawal without the continued dosing. There are never any comments from loved ones or associates to support the positive aspects of being chained to an opioid psychologically, emotionally and physically.

The “legitimate patient” is a manufactured term by the drug companies and refers to the individual who takes the narcotics as prescribed as they face a slow psychological, emotional and physical deterioration while on the drugs.  The pharmacist sees the people on a daily basis who are continuing to deteriorate while on the narcotics. The family’s loved ones will attest to the damages of the legal narcotics.

Pharmacists are proving themselves to be caring and diligent members of the health care system.  It is a pleasure that they will not be bullied from press releases of the (FLSPMP).  The pharmacist’s understand the appropriate use of the narcotics.

The banoxycontin site with thousands of comments should put the (FLSPMP) press release in the proper perspective.  http://www.banoxycontin.com  

A member of (FLSPMP) is always welcome to call into the radio show.

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From the 1/29 Show – The FDA – al Qaida – Zogenix and ZoHydro – Homeland Security

Since September, 11 2001, an organization few in America had heard of changed the course of world history.  While al Qaida has brought death and destruction to tens of thousands in the world, the FDA has become the al Qaida equivalent in our country.  Since the FDA allowed the release of OxyContin tens of thousands of innocent victims have been lost to the heroin equivalents.  The Florida Examiners Report for 2010 lists over 1500 deaths from oxycodone (OxyContin’s ingredient) and over 300 deaths from hydrocodone (active opioid in Vicodin).

The FDA’s secret march to bring more death and destruction appears to be continuing forward.  An unfathomable thought: is the FDA leadership an operative for al Qaida?   Ok, maybe crazy, but I need an explanation on why the FDA remains silent as the destruction from the opioids continues to grow.

It was recently reported that a “24 hour timed release” version of hydrocodone is being considered by the FDA.  The Associated Press was the first to report on it nationally. http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/12/zohydro_new_powerful_painkille.html

“The new pills contain the highly addictive painkiller hydrocodone, packing up to 10 times the amount of the drug as existing medications such as Vicodin.  Four companies have begun patient testing, and one of them — Zogenix of San Diego — plans to apply early next year to begin marketing its product, Zohydro.”

A product with ten times the amount of hydrocodone that is in a Vicodin tablet may be on our streets within the year!   Homeland Security continues to monitor the airline traffic and ports of entry in our country and have turned a blind eye to “our enemy within” this country, the FDA!

Advocates for the Reform of Prescription Opioids (ARPO) http://www.rxreform.org/   is leading the awareness campaign to bring a stop to the FDA’s most recent actions.  The President of ARPO, Peter Jackson, states “Hydrocodone has been implicated in the deaths of thousands” and “you have a recipe for disaster similar to the tragedy that has happened to OxyContin”.

Erich Curnow from the Examiners.com recently wrote: “it’s not okay to get people hooked on pain medication for profit.” http://www.examiner.com/addictions-in-pittsburgh/arpo-takes-aim-at-fda-over-latest-rx-madness    The reporters in our country are beginning to understand the complicity of the FDA.

The beginning of the effort to let the FDA know they are no longer working in secrecy has begun.  We need to stop the FDA from allowing a “super dose” of hydrocodone to be on our streets.  Please contact ARPO at http://www.rxreform.org/contact/

If you have a lot of extra time, contact Homeland Security and ask them if they know of the FDA’s actions to help addict and kill tens of thousands of individuals?

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From the 1/22 Show – Dr. Scott Fishman and The University of California Davis

Most of the people reading this have signed the BanOxyContin Petition. The following message went to the BanOxyContin signers earlier this week.

BanOxyContin Update/Re: Dr. Scott Fishman

Many people responded to our last request to send messages to the Dean of the University California Davis Medical School concerning Dr. Scott Fishman and his close affiliation with the legal drug cartels in our country. The University of Davis Health System issued a public response.
http://www.ucdmc.ucdavis.edu/publish/news/newsroom/6112    In part: “Dr. Fishman is a highly ethical, socially responsible physician who has advocated for the responsible use of pain medicine. He is an excellent physician who practices the highest standard of medicine and always acts in the best interest of patients. We are proud to have him as a member of the UC Davis faculty. The ProPublica story is an inaccurate and misleading representation of Dr. Fishman.”

This statement comes after our collective request to the University of California to publicly make a statement concerning Dr. Fishman for being the past President of the American Pain Foundation who received 88% of their funding last year from the legal narcotic manufacturers http://www.propublica.org/article/the-champion-of-painkillers     (including the maker of OxyContin-Purdue Pharma).

Fishman also apparently has a close affiliation with our United States Surgeon General, Regina Benjamin. Dr. Benjamin was the former Chair of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the United States whose organization has been supportive of sending out tens of thousands of copies of Fishman’s book that promotes and supports more unhindered narcotic distribution by our doctors: RESPONSIBLE OPIOID PRESCRIBING – A Physician’s Guide http://www.fsmb.org/pain-overview.html

Please send another message to the UC Davis that you expect them to retract their recent press release and Fishman remains a disgrace to the University campus. Fishman has been a part of destroying thousands of lives and this is our chance to let America know we are not going to sit silent any longer.

If your time is limited, please feel free to use this one short paragraph to the University Chancellor – Linda P.B Katehi:
I am concerned that you have allowed Dr. Scott Fishman continue to work at the University of California after tens of thousands have either died or been greatly affected from his leadership of The American Pain Foundation. Dr Scott Fishman is an embarrassment to your fine institution.

This is Chancellor Katehi’s contact page. http://chancellor.ucdavis.edu/contact.php

Finally, please send a note of support to http://stoppnow.com/STOPPNOW/WELCOME.html
Their next rally in front of a pain clinic in South Florida is Monday Jan 30.

PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES AND SEND A SHORT MESSAGE OF SUPPORT TO STOPPNOW AND LET CHANCELLOR KATECHI KNOW THAT IT IS NOT BUSINESS AS USUAL ANY LONGER FOR THE DRUG COMPANIES.

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From the 1/15 Show – Ron Paul and Rand Paul – “Like Father, Like Son”

Pinellas County, Florida lost a 19-year old to drugs last week. Another death from a “legal product”. http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/police-safety-harbor-teen-had-smoked-synthetic-drug-before-drowning/1209812   The damages from the designer drugs continues to increase.

The challenge for the radio show is trying to understand why most adults don’t know and understand the products being sold to our young people on the streets. The designer drugs have been sold freely as “bath salts” and “plant foods” and have the ability to create dangerous mind altering experiences. Every parent should be outraged that the ability to obtain the designer drugs from the local convenience store or head shop continues. Every parent should be knowledgeable of what is available to their child on the street.

Fortunately, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and many state leaders around the country have recognized the dangers of the designer drugs. The DEA has made many of the drugs illegal and many states (Florida included) has pushed for official legislation.

The designer drugs offer a challenge because when a specific chemical entity is made illegal, another chemical replaces it on the shelves that the government has not had a chance to address.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed legislation to both make the existing designer drugs illegal and help the DEA remove future designer drugs more quickly. This is a common sense measure to help protect individuals from personal damage, families from burying their loved ones, and communities from paying for the collateral damage from the drugs.

It is astonishing to this radio show host that the U.S. Senate has not passed the final legislation that would remove the dangerous and absolutely unnecessary designer drugs from the local store shelves.

According to news reports, it is one lone Senator that is holding up the legislation. It is Kentucky Senator Rand Paul, son of Ron Paul. http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2012/01/09/gvsb0109.htm

It is widely reported on Rand Paul’s father: Ron Paul’s inane stance on “The War on Drugs”. With 70% of the drug deaths and majority of the community’s problems from legal drugs in our country, the experiment on “legalization” is clear. We lost a 19 year old young man this week because an unnecessary product was on a store shelf.

Rand Paul, apparently following in his illogical father’s footsteps, has decided that destruction and deaths from unnecessary products makes sense.

What makes it more incomprehensible is Rand Paul is listed as a medical doctor. A sad commentary on the medical compatriots that remain silent on Rand Paul’s uncaring decision.

Ron Paul is also listed as a doctor. Like father, like son?

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From the 1/8 Show – Time Magazine Becomes a Champion for the Legal Drug Cartels

Special interests influencing the written word are nothing new to journalism. Powerful entities will hire a journalist to write a story within a major publication without revealing the influence or monetary incentive the journalist may have.

It appears to this writer that Time Magazine may have succumbed to some biased journalism. I am assuming that Time has seen its print sales continue to deteriorate in recent years and catering to large money interests may have become a reality not envisioned in the great and influential past history of Time Magazine.

I am referencing the recent article in Viewpoint: “Champion of Pain Relief, Siobhan Reynolds Dead in Plane Crash – The pain community loses a pioneering activist” on January 3, 2012. http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/03/champion-of-pain-relief-siobhan-reynolds-dead-in-plane-crash/

Siobhan Reynolds was a strong and often quoted spokesperson for the increased distribution of legal narcotics. Reynolds paraded around the country defending the most egregious and public examples of the drug fiasco. Reynolds strongly advocated for the unhindered and unregulated prescribing of narcotics by any charlatan who had access to a prescription pad. Reynolds represented a phony organization called “The Pain Relief Network” which was nothing more than a mouthpiece for the legal drug cartels. I am not aware of her ever being questioned or reprimanded publicly by any drug producing entity.

I had long questioned Reynolds sincerity in helping people because she refused to come on the radio show. She accused me some untruths and knew she couldn’t take the scrutiny of a knowledgeable person in an open interview.

Unfortunately, Reynolds died in a recent plane crash. While this writer adamantly opposed the viewpoints of Reynolds and didn’t have much respect for her, I am always saddened by a violent death. It is now in the hands of our maker how her destructive actions will be judged.

The positive quotes on Siobhan Reynolds within the Time Magazine article are numerous. The drug company cartel influence came through strongly within the halls of Time Magazine.

Tens of thousands of people are suffering from the over distribution of legal drugs, and the radio show can’t get a single advocate who speaks of the accolades of Siobhan Reynolds to openly discuss the drug fiasco.

May Siobhan Reynolds rest in peace and her advocates consider the legacy she left behind.

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From the 12/25 Show – ProPublica Steps Forward

The truth is that the 12/25 show was a repeat of a “best of” show from October. However, I couldn’t let two tremendous articles published last week go without immediate notice.
ProPublica published the article: “The Champion of Pain Killers”.

http://www.propublica.org/article/the-champion-of-painkillers  The article exposed The American Pain Foundation which for years has promoted the concept that “The risk of addiction is overblown, and the drugs (opioids) are underused.” The American Pain Foundation claims to be an advocate for “patients in pain” and fails to reveal their extensive funding from the legal narcotic drug companies. Unfortunately, too many uneducated journalists continue to use the Foundation for information and quotes.
The second impressive article from ProPublica is equally disturbing.    

http://www.propublica.org/article/two-leaders-in-pain-treatment-have-long-ties-to-drug-industry   The article reveals that Dr. Scott Fishman, chairman and president of the American Pain Foundation and Dr. Perry Fine, a prominent board member of the Foundation are less than candid in their financial ties to the opioid industry. Both Dr. Fishman and Dr. Fine have extensively presented themselves as experts in pain management and narcotic pain therapy in many venues without openly revealing their financial ties to the legal drug cartels they have directly or indirectly represented.
ProPublica indicates that both Fishman and Fine have been less than honest with their respective employers, the University of Utah and The University of California, Davis. It is a sad commentary when two faculty members of respected universities can parade as experts in narcotics when tens of thousands of loved ones and individuals suffer from the biased information Fishman and Fine have expressed. It is sadder if the university administration is not aware of the financial ties both men have to an industry this radio show host believes has no moral conscience.
Take a minute and send a short message regarding Dr. Fine to the Dean of the University School of Medicine of Utah, Dr. Vivian Lee ( vivian.lee@hsc.utah.edu  )
Regarding Dr. Scott Fishman, contact the Dean of UC Davis School of Medicine Dr. Claire Pomeroy ( Claire.pomeroy@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu  )
In essence, the message should be clear that you have been affected from the misuse of the opioids and you are requesting that the doctors are stopped from receiving outside funding from the drug companies that have misrepresented the true dangers of the narcotics. Dr Fishman and Dr. Fine need to be stopped and the University Dean’s told that their faculty member’s actions are an embarrassment to their respective institutions.

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