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moonshade
Old Hand
Reged: 12/01/02
Posts: 451
Loc: searching for my lost shaker o...
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High-tech drug trade hits Louisiana courts
The e-mail from [Email][email protected] February posed a single question: Are the pain pills still for sale?
mailto:[email protected] arrived the very next day, according to a federal indictment -- along with the latest price list, shipping fees, Western Union instructions and the minimum required order.
The customer requested 20 morphine, 60 oxycodone, 30 hydrocodone, 40 Skelaxin and 20 Percocet pills. He then drove to the Circle K on Old Hammond Highway in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and wired $222.75 via Western Union.
Hours later and 2,500 miles away, a University of Idaho student left his room at the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity house and drove to a Safeway in the town of Moscow.
He picked up the money, investigators say -- but he never mailed the pills.
It's the kind of crime that might have gone unreported had the customer not been FBI Special Agent P. Michael Gordon, who was working for the New Orleans, Louisiana -based Cyber Squad.
A federal grand jury in Baton Rouge, Louisiana has indicted 20-year-old Ryan Matthew Haney of Moscow, Idaho, on three counts of wire fraud in connection with the incident. Haney -- a sophomore business major -- will appear later this week before U.S. Magistrate Christine Noland to hear the charges against him.
The indictment accuses Haney of using his personal computer in the frat house to post messages on a bulletin board owned by http://www.healthboards.com, advertising the sale of prescription pain pills.
The Baton Rouge, Louisiana case, authorities say, is just one example of a growing worldwide online illegal trade in pharmaceuticals and related fraud. Unsolicited e-mails promising everything from allergy medicine to Viagra "shipped overnight" and free prescriptions by licensed physicians are little more than a click and a pop up away.
It's simply a high-tech version of an old street crime: The buying and selling of illegal drugs.
"The issue of consumers purchasing controlled substances over the Internet has serious legal and public health implications," said DEA Drug Operations Chief Betsy Willis.
"It is a method of self-medication without the safeguard of an experienced medical diagnosis and monitoring by a trained and licensed physician. Just as we don't allow consumers to purchase controlled substances without a valid prescription, we don't allow this to take place on the Internet."
The trend, Louisiana authorities say, is driven not just by drug abusers seeking new avenues for narcotics -- but also by patients with legitimately diagnosed conditions desperate for more affordable medications.
Americans are spending more money than ever on prescription drugs, according to the Food and Drug Administration. Between 1994 and 2001, the number of prescriptions rose nearly 50 percent to 3.1 billion. During the same period, sales jumped from $61 billion to $155 billion.
"Obviously, drug abusers seek out new avenues to acquire new drugs to abuse, and the Internet makes it easier than ever for them to get those," said Patrick R. Warner, assistant special agent in charge of the DEA in New Orleans, Louisiana. "But we all know the problem with the elderly in trying to find affordable prescriptions, and sometimes they can find lower priced drugs this way."
Federal law requires patients to have a prescription written by a registered practitioner to buy any controlled substance. The prescription is considered valid only if there is an established relationship between the doctor and patient.
The doctor also must review a medical history, complete a physical exam and render a diagnosis, according to the law. There also must be a "logical connection" between the condition and any prescribed medication.
That means that most online prescriptions -- even those based on a questionnaire -- are illegal, Louisiana authorities say.
"The Internet really has no bearing on whether you have a right to buy the drugs or possess them," said U.S. Attorney David Dugas. "You need a valid prescription from a doctor in order to obtain them."
In response to what it saw as a growing trend, the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners recently adopted a position statement saying that Louisiana physicians who take part in online or telephone evaluations without a doctor-patient relationship could have their licenses revoked.
Doctors not licensed in Louisiana who do so, the board wrote, will be referred to the Louisiana Attorney General for criminal prosecution.
Dr. Trent James, a Baton Rouge family physician who's been in practice for more than 32 years, said patients should seek treatment from physicians they know.
"I practice medicine every day of the week, and I would want to help all patients who have pain needs and illnesses," said James, who also serves on the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. "Medications are not without both the good and the bad. I have to choose what's right for that individual patient, and the only way I can do that is through an ongoing relationship.
"You can't get that in an e-mail from a college student in Idaho who isn't licensed to practice medicine."
copyright: U.S. Drug News website
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*** insert profound statement here ***
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redhill
Banned. Flames, offending others
Reged: 06/02/03
Posts: 278
Loc: Hell on Earth, for now
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Quote:
"I practice medicine every day of the week, and I would want to help all patients who have pain needs and illnesses," said James, who also serves on the Louisiana Board of Medical Examiners. "Medications are not without both the good and the bad. I have to choose what's right for that individual patient, and the only way I can do that is through an ongoing relationship.
"You can't get that in an e-mail from a college student in Idaho who isn't licensed to practice medicine."
It's very noble, and I am sure some doctors mean it when they express the sentiment, however to the acute and chronic pain sufferer who's running out of options and out of sympathetic physicians, this amounts to no more than sanctimonious piffle.
I have been in pain, and received zero sympathy and understanding myself, many times. I have been desperate, facing a pain doctor, who seemed to be more interested in humiliating me and making Best if kept off the board sure that I wouldn't get addicted on his watch than prescribing me opiates. He even played a little game with me, making me believe, towards the end of a humiliating three-hour grilling session in the nude and in the cold, that he was going to help me. As I left his office, in pain, he said he'd order me up a CT scan, and we'd go from there, but for now, no help. That office visit cost me $250.
What I am trying to say, through my anger, indignation and sadness, is that the prohibitive nature of pain medicine, the stigma, the embarrassment and the lack of sympathy from increasingly more physicians, are driving desperate people into the arms and clutches of money-hungry opportunists, less-than-legal institutions, and even out-and-out drugdealers.
Sorry, docs, that we sometimes don't seem to trust you, but we're forced into it. We know, because we're not idiots, that you don't want us mere mortal patients practicing medicine on ourselves, but your lack of empathy and action is just not helpful. You know, when it takes three weeks for a CAT scan, and you give me the impression that you might consider pain meds at the next appointment after that, MAYBE, well, you just don't seem all that keen on helping us. And the pain is something that's just there all the time, and we want it resolved sooner rather than later.
I realise doctors in the US are quite often just an extension of the DEA and the HMOs, so it's got to be an incredibly thankless task. But you got into the field because you wanted to help people, right? You put in thousands of hours, and tens of thousands of dollars to obtain that medical licence, then went into debt.
I know you don't want to risk it all, but shouldn't you also have some faith in yourself as a doctor, and be able to tell the law and the insurers that you can see that this person's in real pain and needs some help. Give the poor soul some percocet while he's waiting for the MRI.
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keystone
Veteran
Reged: 09/05/02
Posts: 586
Loc: Arizona, USA
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redhill:
VERY well written and presented. You have hit the nail on the head and expressed to a tee what the majority of us (legitimate CP'ers) feel.
Thank You. Doctors should have some faith in their expertise.
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The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was to convince the world he never existed.
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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Redhill,
Wow, you wrote an excellent post - I'm sure that your words described the feelings of many people here.
Unless there is more to this story - I think that this is just another attempt to bring attention to ops. This is NOT about an op. This is about a college student out to make a quick buck off of a person's pain (or addiction). The first flag should have been those prices. All those meds for less than 300 dollars? Not possible. Anyway - my point is that this was NOT an op - this was a crime, no doubt fraud, etc. But there was no intention of this kid ever sending those medications.
It was not:
"It's simply a high-tech version of an old street crime: The buying and selling of illegal drugs."
Yes, someone was trying to "buy" the drugs. But there was definately NOT going to be any selling.
I was glad to see this sentence:
" The trend, Louisiana authorities say, is driven not just by drug abusers seeking new avenues for narcotics -- but also by patients with legitimately diagnosed conditions desperate for more affordable medications."
Too bad he didn't elaborate more on this. When are the AMA, the Boards of Pharmacies, the "Ethics Panels" etc. going to realize that if patients were being properly treated by their 'real' doctors there would be no need for ops in the first place! 
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ericap
Stranger
Reged: 12/23/03
Posts: 19
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maybe this should be called e-mail scammer arrested.
ericap
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zoe11
Journeyman
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 87
Loc: Other side of the moon
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Yes, this should be called e-mail scammer arrested. Gosh -- things like this are upsetting, and CP sufferers never get their story told.
It's terrible when pain docs treat people poorly. I'm lucky as heck to have a good pain doc. He even told me that I under reported my pain. I wished I could bottle him and send him to all of you. If any of you live in the NW and want to know of a good pain doc, PM me.
zoe
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Michaels
Newbie
Reged: 07/31/03
Posts: 28
Loc: East Coast
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Thanks Moonshade for posting that.
1 Scammer down 100 Million to go.
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Michaels
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prettyday
Threadhead
Reged: 02/09/03
Posts: 903
Loc: Coastal Sage Scrub
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Redhill, that was the most poignant post I have read in very, very long. I am so sorry that you too have this.
But you stated everything, from the visit to the followup perfectly, you deserve praise for being able to articulate your suffering and next time you feel guilty, remember you obviously have not been seeking oblivion, you can see that anytime by the clarity and pacing of your post.   
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First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.
- Mahatma Gandhi
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NJ_Hoss
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/29/03
Posts: 263
Loc: USA
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Additional kudos to Redhill for the eloquence and fortitude required to share such an obviously well-considered and tremendously personal post.
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Jordan530
WonderWoman
Reged: 11/20/02
Posts: 597
Loc: The Left Coast of Florida
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I'm also jumping in to tell you what a wonderful, eloquent post that was. You really hit the nail on the head with that one! Way to go!! 
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'A balanced diet is a cookie in each hand'
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2muchpain
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/07/03
Posts: 274
Loc: USA
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"sanctimonious piffle"
I love it. Gonna save that one for just the right moment.
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night_shade
Threadhead
Reged: 08/26/03
Posts: 907
Loc: The State of Hockey
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And the worst thing is...buying drugs of any kind from email sources (and many IOPs) is still illegal and can be prosecuted federally. Always keep in mind the legal risks as I assure you, prosecutors and judges will have no sympathy for the "legitimate pain sufferer"...in their eyes, we're all junkies when we resort to such means to procure pain medications.
It's a REAL threat and carries REAL prison time. Always calculate your risks carefully in advance.
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Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity.
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shasta
Newbie
Reged: 03/17/02
Posts: 41
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Beautiful, well written, eloquent post Redhill. I too have a very compasionate doctor, who tries very hard to keep my chronic pain in check. However, I too have been left in a lurch waiting for an "emergency MRI" - which took a week, before I could get an epidural. I continue to tear the annulus in one low disc. This sends me way up there on the pain scale. In part, I believe it was my inability to advocate strongly for myself the degree of pain, and the necessity of getting adequate relief until the epidural. And demanding an emergency epidural. However, all doctors are becoming more afraid of prescribing adequate amounts of whatever to hold one's pain due to the pressure from the "authorities" - HMO's and states that are starting a centralized tracking system for all prescriptions written by one's doctor, as well as all on-line purchases for oneself in that state. The pharmacies will have to report as well. It is getting very sick - and those of us in CP are getting the shaft due to unscrupulous IOP's or drug addicts. I hate to see that in Louisianna, now that any OP from a different state will be referred to the Louisanna AG's office for prosecution. Whoa.
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Take care, Shasta
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tray1
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/22/03
Posts: 241
Loc: US
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Redhill,
You so eloquently verbalized exactly how I feel, thank you! It really is sad that we are all in this situation, I understand why MD's are afraid to prescribe but what I do not understand is why more people in the Medical field do not take a stand for patients that have CP? If they really felt that they wanted to treat us but are afraid then why not advocate to change the regulations? I am sure there are many that do but obviously not enough. As I have stated before, MD's are far more qualified to negate those who are in real pain and those who are simply seeking narcotics then our Government! It baffles me and my heart breaks when I hear some of the stories posted here of people that suffer needlessly, it's inhumane. It sickens me when I hear that someone who is diagnosed with incurable cancer or any other disease that can not be cured is denied adequate pain relief.....what is the reason? It makes me want to scream....why would they be afraid of someone who is dying getting addicted? Being that I try to stay as far away from anything political that I can, maybe there is alot to it that I am not aware of but it just doesn't seem humane or good for our economy for that matter, I mean how many people out there would still be productive if they recieved adequate relief that would enable them to stay active? Well as usual I have rambled on enough........I wish you all the best and I hope there is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel for us all.
Take Care
Tray 
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lemongrass
Board Addict
Reged: 09/23/03
Posts: 361
Loc: IL
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What the h*e*l*l constitutes a patient/doctor relationship anyway? If you think about it, most doctors physically see you for what...5 minutes??? How in the world can he/she base their decisions in that short period of time? And for that matter, how can they judge and determine one is a drug seeker/abuser or in legitimate pain just by looking you over? At least with a phone consult and some prepared medical records to ship off, there's more of an established relationship there. That's my humble opinion, anyway. I hear, from many posts here, that doctor so-and-so was compassionate and spoke at great length about the patient's history, etc. That's more than what I get when I see my physician! This is just ludicrous and lunacy all wrapped up in one, gigantic ball!
Now, to address these doctors. They need to get real, too. They need to advocate for their own patients' rights and help us so that we don't have to take such measures to find the relief that we need. If you ask me, how dare they sit all button-lipped and listen like mindful, little children when it comes to the health and well-being of theif patients? They have voices, too, and are intimidated and afraid to speak their minds, but have no qualms about telling us NO when it comes to the management of our pain.
I agree, treat me with some pain medication(s) UNTIL you do perform that MRI or CAT scan and are able to get to the bottom of what is ailing me! Most of us already know what ails us and have 4-5 inch thick medical records to prove it, dangit!
I'd love for a doctor to walk a mile in my shoes. He wouldn't even make it a 1/4 of the way. It's all a political game and I'm so tired of us CPer's having to be the pawns.
As for the 20-year-old who was running his little scam. I hope he gets the book thrown at him. But it's just another example at what lengths we legitimate CPer' will go through if our doctor and the government won't smarten up!
lemongrass
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themedman
Journeyman
Reged: 09/14/03
Posts: 69
Loc: 51 PEG
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Amen... TheMedMan
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To give is better than to recieve
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