Hurrah!
Ryan Haight Online Pharmacy Consumer Protection Act of 2008 went into effect Monday, April 13
Thanks to Sen. Dianne Feinstein [D, CA
* Sen. Joseph Biden [D, DE]
* Norm Coleman
* Sen. John Cornyn [R, TX]
* Sen. Patrick Leahy [D, VT]
* Sen. Jefferson Sessions [R, AL]
This bill amends the Controlled Substance Act to stop the delivery,distribution, or dispensing of controlled substances over the Internet without a valid prescription.
A valid prescription is defined as "as a prescription that is issued for a legitimate purpose by a practitioner who has conducted at least one in-person medical evaluation of the patient."
Directly from the law itself; it reads:
Imposes registration and reporting requirements on online pharmacies.
Requires an online pharmacy to:
(1) display on its Internet homepage a statement that it complies with the requirements of this Act;
(2) comply with state laws for the licensure of pharmacies in each state in which it operates or sells controlled substances;
(3) post on its Internet homepage specified information, including the name, address, and telephone number of the pharmacy, the qualifications of its pharmacist-in-charge, and a certification of its registration under this Act; and
(4) notify the Attorney General and applicable state boards of pharmacy at least 30 days prior to offering to sell, deliver, distribute, or dispense controlled substances over the Internet.
The bill is named after Ryan Haight who was 18 years old when he died after overdosing on a prescription painkiller. He bought the drug on the Internet from a medical doctor that he had never met.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 6, 2009
The correlation of young people on psychiatric drugs and school shooting
With the ten years anniversary of Columbine coming up I was curious how many of these incidences had occurred since that time. I have read arguments that this happens much more frequently if we also add in the urban statistics but these are the ones that I found.
According to an article in clickpress.com this is the present tally.
Last November, Pekka-Eric Auvinen joined the growing list of school shooters under the influence of psychiatric drugs documented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to cause suicidal behavior and homicidal thoughts. In other instances, the shooter’s medical records were never made public, so their psychiatric drug use remains in question.
School shootings committed by individuals under the influence of psychiatric drugs include:
Omaha, Nebraska - December 5, 2007: 19-year-old Robert Hawkins killed eight people and wounded five before committing suicide in an Omaha mall. Hawkins' friend told CNN that the gunman was on antidepressants, and autopsy results confirmed he was under the influence of the "anti-anxiety" drug Valium.
Cleveland, Ohio - October 10, 2007: 14-year-old Asa Coon stormed through his school with a gun in each hand, shooting and wounding four before taking his own life. court records show Coon had been placed on the antidepressant Trazadone.
Blacksburg, Virginia - April 16, 2007: The psychiatric drug history of Seung-Hui Cho in the Virginia Tech Massacre was never made public. Initial reports stated that "depression medication" was found among Cho's belongings. But neither his toxicology reports, nor his recent medical history were ever released to find out whether Cho had been in withdrawal from psychiatric medication. (33 were killed and 29 injured, but this was not included in the total of dead and wounded cited above.)
Red Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota - March 21, 2005: 16-year-old Native American Jeff Weise, reportedly under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac, went on a shooting rampage at home and at his school, killing nine people and wounding five before committing suicide.
Greenbush, New York - February 2004: 16-year-old Jon Romano strolled into his high school in east Greenbush and opened fire with a shotgun. Special education teacher Michael Bennett was hit in the leg. Romano had been taking "medication for depression."
El Cajon, California - March 22, 2001: 18-year-old Jason Hoffman was on two antidepressants, Effexor and Celexa, when he opened fire at his California high school wounding five. Hoffman had also undergone an “anger management” program.
Williamsport, Pennsylvania - March 7, 2000: 14-year-old Elizabeth Bush was on the antidepressant Prozac when she blasted away at fellow students in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, wounding one.
Conyers, Georgia - May 20, 1999: 15-year-old T.J. Solomon was being treated with a mix of antidepressants when he opened fire on and wounded 6 of his classmates.
Columbine, Colorado - April 20, 1999: 18-year-old Eric Harris was on the antidepressant Luvox when he and his partner Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded 23 others before taking their own lives in the bloodiest school massacre in history. The coroner confirmed that the antidepressant was in his system through toxicology reports while Dylan Klebold’s autopsy was never made public. Harris and Klebold underwent "anger management" and "death education" classes.
Notus, Idaho - April 16, 1999: 15-year-old Shawn Cooper fired two shotgun rounds in his school narrowly missing students; he was taking a mix of antidepressants.
Springfield, Oregon - May 21, 1998: 15-year-old Kip Kinkel murdered his own parents and then proceeded to school where he opened fire on students in the cafeteria, killing two and wounding 22. Kinkel had been on Prozac. Kinkel also underwent "anger management" classes.
As the article stated, these are all the incidences that named the psychiatric drugs; some due to privacy issues probably were left unmentioned as in the case of Klebold from Columbine.
We all know the stresses that students are under. We all know the stresses we are all under in this world we are living in today. I am not sure how we can help ourselves leastwise these kids. By the way, it is not only the United States, Germany's latest shooting reminds us this is a global problem.
According to an article in clickpress.com this is the present tally.
Last November, Pekka-Eric Auvinen joined the growing list of school shooters under the influence of psychiatric drugs documented by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to cause suicidal behavior and homicidal thoughts. In other instances, the shooter’s medical records were never made public, so their psychiatric drug use remains in question.
School shootings committed by individuals under the influence of psychiatric drugs include:
Omaha, Nebraska - December 5, 2007: 19-year-old Robert Hawkins killed eight people and wounded five before committing suicide in an Omaha mall. Hawkins' friend told CNN that the gunman was on antidepressants, and autopsy results confirmed he was under the influence of the "anti-anxiety" drug Valium.
Cleveland, Ohio - October 10, 2007: 14-year-old Asa Coon stormed through his school with a gun in each hand, shooting and wounding four before taking his own life. court records show Coon had been placed on the antidepressant Trazadone.
Blacksburg, Virginia - April 16, 2007: The psychiatric drug history of Seung-Hui Cho in the Virginia Tech Massacre was never made public. Initial reports stated that "depression medication" was found among Cho's belongings. But neither his toxicology reports, nor his recent medical history were ever released to find out whether Cho had been in withdrawal from psychiatric medication. (33 were killed and 29 injured, but this was not included in the total of dead and wounded cited above.)
Red Lake Indian Reservation, Minnesota - March 21, 2005: 16-year-old Native American Jeff Weise, reportedly under the influence of the antidepressant Prozac, went on a shooting rampage at home and at his school, killing nine people and wounding five before committing suicide.
Greenbush, New York - February 2004: 16-year-old Jon Romano strolled into his high school in east Greenbush and opened fire with a shotgun. Special education teacher Michael Bennett was hit in the leg. Romano had been taking "medication for depression."
El Cajon, California - March 22, 2001: 18-year-old Jason Hoffman was on two antidepressants, Effexor and Celexa, when he opened fire at his California high school wounding five. Hoffman had also undergone an “anger management” program.
Williamsport, Pennsylvania - March 7, 2000: 14-year-old Elizabeth Bush was on the antidepressant Prozac when she blasted away at fellow students in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, wounding one.
Conyers, Georgia - May 20, 1999: 15-year-old T.J. Solomon was being treated with a mix of antidepressants when he opened fire on and wounded 6 of his classmates.
Columbine, Colorado - April 20, 1999: 18-year-old Eric Harris was on the antidepressant Luvox when he and his partner Dylan Klebold killed 12 classmates and a teacher and wounded 23 others before taking their own lives in the bloodiest school massacre in history. The coroner confirmed that the antidepressant was in his system through toxicology reports while Dylan Klebold’s autopsy was never made public. Harris and Klebold underwent "anger management" and "death education" classes.
Notus, Idaho - April 16, 1999: 15-year-old Shawn Cooper fired two shotgun rounds in his school narrowly missing students; he was taking a mix of antidepressants.
Springfield, Oregon - May 21, 1998: 15-year-old Kip Kinkel murdered his own parents and then proceeded to school where he opened fire on students in the cafeteria, killing two and wounding 22. Kinkel had been on Prozac. Kinkel also underwent "anger management" classes.
As the article stated, these are all the incidences that named the psychiatric drugs; some due to privacy issues probably were left unmentioned as in the case of Klebold from Columbine.
We all know the stresses that students are under. We all know the stresses we are all under in this world we are living in today. I am not sure how we can help ourselves leastwise these kids. By the way, it is not only the United States, Germany's latest shooting reminds us this is a global problem.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Great Idea! Drug Turn In
In Arizona Pinal Cty officials have invited residents to safely dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs at a "drug turn in". They are quoted to say it helps keep drugs out of the hands of our children and out of the ground water. Bravo!
So Much News from Everywhere
I decided to consolidate the many articles that have come out in the month of February. There has been so many that report the same type of discovery about kids and prescriptions drugs but notice how they come from sea to shining sea. But wait there is one that I found rather ironic. Among all of the reports that have come from Stamford, CT; Maryland; Madison, WI; Indianapolis, IN; and Arizona, there is one curious Associated Press item from Partnership for a Drug-Free America.
From The Advocate in Stanford, CT
Dr. Kasey Spoonamore repeats the mantra that kids take prescription drugs because they think them safe. She is a psychiatrist and addiction specialist who works primarily with young people in Greenwich, Roweyton, and New York City.
A new term for PHARM parties is a "bowling" party. Kids are popping a handful of pills in combination and then sometimes mixing them with alcohol and weed.
From the Carroll County Times
Results of the 2007 Maryland Adolescent Survey from this county were released Weds. 2/25 and showed almost 13% of seniors and 6.4% of sophomores had abused some type of narcotic.
Lisa Myers, director of Westminister-based treatment facility said, "They (prescription drugs) are chemically equal to heroin."
Officials cited in the article claims parent involvement may be the key to combating the rise in prescription drug abuse.
from the Huntington Herald Dispatch 2/19
A toxocology report in an Ashland, WVA teenager's accidental death confirms the combination of alcohol, prescription drugs, and marijuana caused his death.
from WKOWTV.com Madison Wisconsin
Two in every ten teenagers have used prescription drugs to get high. Wisconsin's Attorney General claims part of the problem is lack of public awareness. Sixty percent of high school students have access to controlled substances in their homes and twenty percent have used them to get high. This is according to published reports.
In Indianapolis, IN wthr.com
Jennings Cty teens are facing drug charges for bringing drugs to their middle school. Fearing an overdose, other students reported the incident after watching the student ingest pills.
Now here is the clincher:
Associated Press reports that Partnership for Drugfree American president and Chief executive officer Steve Pasiero said that "parents are talking and particularly girls are listening" according to a recent commissioned survey. This study marks the first increase in percentage that kids are listening to parents about the dangers of prescription drug use.
Not enough Mr. Pasiero. Not enough. Are we trying to validate our existence here?
From The Advocate in Stanford, CT
Dr. Kasey Spoonamore repeats the mantra that kids take prescription drugs because they think them safe. She is a psychiatrist and addiction specialist who works primarily with young people in Greenwich, Roweyton, and New York City.
A new term for PHARM parties is a "bowling" party. Kids are popping a handful of pills in combination and then sometimes mixing them with alcohol and weed.
From the Carroll County Times
Results of the 2007 Maryland Adolescent Survey from this county were released Weds. 2/25 and showed almost 13% of seniors and 6.4% of sophomores had abused some type of narcotic.
Lisa Myers, director of Westminister-based treatment facility said, "They (prescription drugs) are chemically equal to heroin."
Officials cited in the article claims parent involvement may be the key to combating the rise in prescription drug abuse.
from the Huntington Herald Dispatch 2/19
A toxocology report in an Ashland, WVA teenager's accidental death confirms the combination of alcohol, prescription drugs, and marijuana caused his death.
from WKOWTV.com Madison Wisconsin
Two in every ten teenagers have used prescription drugs to get high. Wisconsin's Attorney General claims part of the problem is lack of public awareness. Sixty percent of high school students have access to controlled substances in their homes and twenty percent have used them to get high. This is according to published reports.
In Indianapolis, IN wthr.com
Jennings Cty teens are facing drug charges for bringing drugs to their middle school. Fearing an overdose, other students reported the incident after watching the student ingest pills.
Now here is the clincher:
Associated Press reports that Partnership for Drugfree American president and Chief executive officer Steve Pasiero said that "parents are talking and particularly girls are listening" according to a recent commissioned survey. This study marks the first increase in percentage that kids are listening to parents about the dangers of prescription drug use.
Not enough Mr. Pasiero. Not enough. Are we trying to validate our existence here?
The Rabbit Trap will be on Kindle March 2, 2009
The Rabbit Trap is going electronic. I am excited. How easy can this be. Instead of carrying a book in my purse, I can now carry a kindle with Rabbit Trap on it. This business of writing just gets more exciting.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Internet Providing Growth Spurt for the SuperMarket for Substances
Sigh. For the adults who are trying to watch out for kids, we are really in for a fight. If you remember, I posted a note about
our governor in Ohio trying to ban salvia divinorum. Again that is a little known or cared about minty herb. The Central American shamans have used this psychedelic drug for centuries for their medical and spiritual ceremonies. Guess what. The web supermarket scummies have found it. They have now created websites and have turned this herb into a best-seller. If that isn't enough, many instructional YouTube videos have been created to teach young people how to turn themselves into dazed, drooling dummies.
I suggest you click on the title of this post to learn more. It will take you to the PC article. It is truly sickening to see how many sites there are. It is catching on people, and as usual, the adults will catch on way too late for some kids.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Gov Strickland's State of the State
As I continue to teach and attempt to develop lessons for students of English and Communications, I wonder why are these kids angrier, less interested, more inclined to hurt themselves in so many ways? How can we help them? In every age before, young people came from dysfunctional families. Students were good students, bad students, had learning disabilities, etc. But these kids have more help to achieve and resolve those issues than ever before. They certainly have more protection from abuse and places to go for help. They have help to be more engaged. They have help to cope with the nature’s disabilities. They have more toys to play with to avoid boredom, more things to do to express themselves, more interscholastic sports to play whether they are male or female. If they are bored as seniors, schools have developed a capstone or senior project to give them a head start in their post secondary education.
But no. More kids are unhappy, reaching into the medicine cabinet for the pharmaceuticals to relieve their stress or emotional pain or just to get a high.
Last week at my school a girl put her fist through a double pane window. Why?
Because she was angry.
I love creating opportunities for teens in my class. But unless everything is done for them, many don’t want to take the opportunities. They want to take the moldy old ruts because it is easier. They do not read even if it means they will fail. They want to be fed the stories. Even time given in class is not used; students fuss and play forcing disciplinary action. Kids have even been blatant enough to report they have not read a book they have only watched the movie of the book (usually a weak representation).
I am not looking for blame. I am looking for ways to educate and solve the problems at hand. Today, our governor, Ted Strickland gave his State of the State address. I am excited. Yes, I am an eternal optimist. Many of the things I do in my classroom were mentioned; my advisory of senior project and subjects of communication, technology, and media literacy will now be required. I am practical too. I know these things still have to pass the senate and the house. Both have fixtures of destruction that have their own agendas. These fixtures have been around for the seventeen years that our unconstitutional funding has been in place. And they will try to do their best to tear the new ideas to pieces offering no new ideas of their own.
Let’s hope that some of what he has proposed can help some of the kids I see every day be less angry or bored .
But no. More kids are unhappy, reaching into the medicine cabinet for the pharmaceuticals to relieve their stress or emotional pain or just to get a high.
Last week at my school a girl put her fist through a double pane window. Why?
Because she was angry.
I love creating opportunities for teens in my class. But unless everything is done for them, many don’t want to take the opportunities. They want to take the moldy old ruts because it is easier. They do not read even if it means they will fail. They want to be fed the stories. Even time given in class is not used; students fuss and play forcing disciplinary action. Kids have even been blatant enough to report they have not read a book they have only watched the movie of the book (usually a weak representation).
I am not looking for blame. I am looking for ways to educate and solve the problems at hand. Today, our governor, Ted Strickland gave his State of the State address. I am excited. Yes, I am an eternal optimist. Many of the things I do in my classroom were mentioned; my advisory of senior project and subjects of communication, technology, and media literacy will now be required. I am practical too. I know these things still have to pass the senate and the house. Both have fixtures of destruction that have their own agendas. These fixtures have been around for the seventeen years that our unconstitutional funding has been in place. And they will try to do their best to tear the new ideas to pieces offering no new ideas of their own.
Let’s hope that some of what he has proposed can help some of the kids I see every day be less angry or bored .
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