Pubdate: Wed, 14 Sep 2005
Source: Ogdensburg Journal/Advance News (NY)
Copyright: 2005 Johnson Newspaper Corp.
Contact: http://www.ogd.com/letter.htm
Website: http://www.ogd.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/689
Author: Paul Mitchell
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/operation+sahara+wind

BLACK MARKET PRESCRIPTION DRUGS COST YOU MILLIONS

CANTON - Just how bad is the black market prescription drug business
and the practice of over-prescribing by area physicians in St.
Lawrence County?

Operation Sahara Wind answers that question.

Acting St. Lawrence County District Attorney Gary Miles said that when
an investigation shut down Dr. Gail DeHart in Gouverneur, the word was
that "it was as dry as the Sahara" on the streets.

Miles added that efforts to get this investigation off the ground
failed last year due to legal reasons. But with events like the
tea-drinking episodes with stolen Fentanyl patches, the DA's office
and agents of the New York Field Division of the United States Drug
Enforcement Administration (DEA) stepped it up.

"They ate, drank and slept this investigation," stated Miles during a
Tuesday press conference. Miles also applauded the efforts of Special
investigator Dan Manor of the District Attorney's office.

Miles explained the dangers of over-prescribing narcotic drugs and the
physicians' inappropriate and negligent practice of treating drug
addicts. He noted that all three physicians under investigation
prescribed two drugs that when taken together are a deadly
combination. Miles said penal law makes it illegal to treat a person,
known to be an addict, by over-prescribing.

Here's some interesting facts presented by Miles.

In surveying 12 of DeHart's patients, one patient consumed $420,000 in
Medicaid prescription cost from March 2003 to March 2005; another
$130,000; one patient $35,000, with $15,000 of that for OxyContin -
one of the more popular narcotics described as very addictive.

Miles said the investigation revealed that in six patients, one had
been prescribed 19,114 dosage unites over a two year period, or 26
pills per day; another related the first person received 11,185 dosage
units or 15 pills per day; a third 18,785 units of 25 pills per day;
and a family of three were prescribed 21,962 dosage units or 30 pills
per day (10 pills per person per day).

"It quickly became apparent they were not consuming all these pills
them selves or they would be dead," Miles remarked. "Some of them were
filling prescriptions twice a day at different pharmacies."

Miles said the crackdown has escalated the street value of narcotics.
One tablet of Tylenol-3 used to go for $30 a pill; now it's $60 a
pill: OxyContin went for $40 per dose and now cost significantly more
on the street.

When asked what has led these physicians down a path where they have
thrown away their careers, Miles gave four reasons. First he mentioned
money or financial gain, then sex which has reportedly come into play
in one case; a thrid drug addiction on part of the practitioner as is
believed to be the case in the DeHart matter; and forth, stupidity.

"They're not paying attention to what they're prescribing or the
condition of the patient. They're asleep at the switch," said Miles.
"Medicaid has been literally hemorrhaging from these drug addicted
lifestyles."
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin