dmoe
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 240
|
|
Just a some reading from a thread going on in the VIP section that I wanted to pass along,
Hotline set up to combat prescription drug abuse
DEA officials in Dallas on Tuesday announced a toll-free hotline in an effort to crack down on the illegal sale and abuse of prescription drugs. People can call the hotline, 1-877-RxAbuse and supply anonymous tips about controlled substances such as painkillers and steroids. The agency said abuse of such drugs has become an increasingly widespread problem, citing a 2003 national survey that showed that more than 6 million Americans use prescription medicines improperly. The agency also encouraged people Tuesday to report suspicious Internet pharmacies by logging on to its Web site, www.dea.gov.
|
lela
Old Hand
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 431
Loc: Where it never snows
|
|
I heard that on the news. I wonder how many UPS, Fed-Ex and post office employees will participate.
--------------------
" The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction".
Aesop
|
blackmask
Newbie
Reged: 12/30/03
Posts: 36
|
|
does that mean someone calling in is unable to be sued???- can a court require the DEA to issue a source of a call??
|
bluez
Banned
Reged: 11/04/04
Posts: 81
Loc: Arizona
|
|
I think the post office, etc is far too busy this time of year (or anytime for that matter) to even think about this. Now if there's a reward involved, who knows??
I wondered how many people will try to use this as some kind of payback for a deal gone wrong (online or otherwise) or something of that nature. I know my FedEx guy doesn't give a rip what I or my neighbors get - he just wants to do his job, get paid & get home like the rest of us. Just my take on it anyway.
I doubt that the "average person" would even want to get involved unless it was something directly affecting their family or friends. I can't imagine that the DEA is worrying THAT much about the guy down the street lighting one up. But with the direction the country has taken the last 4 years, I suppose it's distinctly possible. Sigh.
--------------------
says he isn ot with op but is always fighting with chris who thinks he is one of hte owners at nww
banned for being trouble in that and since he says he isn ot with nww: no problem
|
rocky99
Journeyman
Reged: 08/12/04
Posts: 71
|
|
XXX
Edited by DrugBuyers (12/29/04 09:18 PM)
|
Unnamed
Newbie
Reged: 04/16/04
Posts: 29
Loc: Heart of Dixie
|
|
I saw a headline today that Bush is talking about big budget cuts for everything except defense and anti-terrorism. Sounds to me like someone is trying to justify their budget--and who cares who gets hurt? Just a bunch of junkies and sick people, right? If you take away the OP's, then the only resource will be the street dealer--and after we've spent so much in years, lives, and money to keep the criminals rolling in dough, we sure can't let Internet pharmacies run them out of business now, can we?
In the press release, they are specifically trolling for stories of people who have OD'd. They're looking for horror stories to tell when they start busting OP's, to show how they're "saving lives". We all know that people in general are too incompetent to be allowed to make choices about their own health. Funny, the DEA never trolls for stories of people with miserable lives because of untreated pain. Isn't that a surprise.
Aren't you all glad that we've got Uncle Sam to take care of us?
-U
|
muphoric
Stranger
Reged: 12/14/03
Posts: 23
|
|
Fed-ex and ups supply many people with their meds. How would they know if you bought your meds from an OP, or from any-other source? Don't be paranoid.
|
lindatexas
Stranger
Reged: 02/15/03
Posts: 18
|
|
There will probably be people who ordered somewhere and if their order was taken by customs then they try to hurt the pharmacy and call the DEA - or even pharmacies trying to dob-in the competition, and very quicky there are none left, it's very worrying.
|
sevenoaks
Newbie
Reged: 11/18/04
Posts: 37
|
|
Do you really think a few tip hotlines will shut down the OP's. I don't think so. If you are going to worry then worry about new laws taking affect. That will be the next step I think. That would put a big hurt on a lot of people. I prey the OP's are long lived!!!
|
TEAPOT
Member
Reged: 12/02/04
Posts: 141
|
|
the dea has always had a hotline.come on now this is crazy,you can look in any yellow pages from large cities and the number is there with other emergency and important numbers.this is really being made bigger than what it is.
|
neonsign2003
Veteran
Reged: 12/26/02
Posts: 556
Loc: midwest
|
|
This Hot line has been up and running for sometime. I remember reading the site years ago! They also publish the names of OP that they ( DEA or CUSTOMS) have sent notices to telling the OP they are suspected of inproper sales.
|
dmoe
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 240
|
|
1 - before I switched to an OP I was on worker's comp, and in order to get my meds paid for by comp I had to use a mail order pharmacy in PA, so I have always gotten my meds via UPS or Fed ex from out of state,
2 - people have been have receiving meds from out of state for many years, and a lot of older people have always gotten their meds from Canada to save money,
so that being said it is obvious that UPS and Fed Ex have been delivering meds for years, so they are not going to call into this hotline, and if your afraid that your driver just might, then make sure you are always friendly with your driver, and give him a little something for the holidays they love to get cookies, a card with 20 bucks, you know everyone loves to get something just like you would do for your kids school bus driver, teacher etc... and then you will know that your driver is not going to call anyone on you, if you are nasty to them or they do not like you, then who knows they might just decide to say something to their supervisor but I doubt it, anyway by the time they off work all they want to do is go home.
|
karib
Member
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 109
Loc: new england
|
|
i do have one ups driver that annoys me, he is about my age say late 40ish and he seems to be a bit "hippish" and alwys makes a remark to me , when i know he is the drivr i sort of feel very uncomfortable. he will say "ohhh another one'? but it is not what he says it is how he says it. or ohhh , he knows i work for the state and he knows i have insurance so he will ask gees doesn't your insurance pay for that? ya know blah blah, he knows i know he does. so if anyone he concerns me. he is sort of macho and very good looking and the type of guy who knows it. so he is a bit "cocky" to begin with. i think i will give him cookies!
|
dmoe
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 240
|
|
sound like he is real jerk, give him the stale ones LOL
|
t_oshan2003
Board Addict
Reged: 10/17/03
Posts: 378
Loc: East
|
|
the dea's hotline will go over as well as Al Bundy's shoe hotline, remember 555-shoe for all you're shoe problems, shoe betcha!
|
valmax
Stranger
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 3
|
|
Hey dmoe,
wow, thats really freaky...my best friend works as a fedex driver...and never gives the packages a second look...of course.. his route is so big...he's just trying to get done, as quick as possible...
|
looseliz
Member
Reged: 11/09/04
Posts: 123
|
|
Yes,ups and fedex deliver to everyone from everywhere,but to many of them a bell goes off when they are from FLORIDA.Florida is not known for cheap drugs like canada. Wouldn't you agree?
|
darcy34
Newbie
Reged: 11/27/04
Posts: 25
Loc: Southeasterly
|
|
I worked in shipping for a number of years and the only concern my UPS and FEDEX drivers seemed to have with packages was that they didn't weigh a ton! However, a little X-mas gift for the mail person couldn't hurt.
|
lela
Old Hand
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 431
Loc: Where it never snows
|
|
I really think the only concern would be the johnny cop wanna be. If I delivered packages all day, I wouldn't give a s... what was in them unless there was a big, red flag attached that said terrorism inside. I would notice if someone received an excessive number of packages from foreign countries but wouldn't be concerned unless the "situation" warranted it; there could be a number of reasons for this. If you think you have one of these robocop delivery people, just don't open the door acting drunk, with loud music blaring and smoke rolling out, etc. etc....Happy Holidays to all!
--------------------
" The shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of the eagle's own plumes. We often give our enemies the means of our own destruction".
Aesop
|
Trampy
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 04/02/02
Posts: 1247
Loc: Southwest U.S.
|
|
Quote:
does that mean someone calling in is unable to be sued???- can a court require the DEA to issue a source of a call??
Someone filing a false report to the DEA can get five years in federal prison for each count. If someone is prosecuted due to a tip, i don't think that the call itself and its information can be used directly in (any) court unless they get the caller on the witness stand and the Defendant has an opportunity to confront his or her acccuser.
Many places have CrimeStoppers hotlines where anonymous tips that LEAD TO convictions can get money rewards and they protect the snitch's identity. But they could only get a conviction (and the snitch get the reward) if the information given LEADS TO a conviction. Unless the caller is willing to be state's witness and testify against the accused, the recording of the tip is considered hearsay under federal rules of evidence and the tape would be totally inadmissible unless the caller was willing to testify and be cross examined by the Defendant's lawyer(s).
Almost all of the time, the way it works is that they don't try to put the tipster on the witness stand. The tipster wants to be anonymous. But they can use whatever information they're given to help them build a case. Some states even allow search warrants to be issued based on information from anonymous tips. Scary!
But information from a tipster is not in the same catgeory as information obtained illegally where the "fruit of the poisonous tree" principle applies. It's legal to run those hotlines. It's illegal (and will lead to dismissal or acquittal) if they build their case on what they find during an illegal search.
Whether or not the anonymity of the tipster is protected when they call state CrimeStoppers lines would depend on the state's laws. I don't know if there's any federal cases or codes to be a precedent or governing rule if the DEA brings charges in federal court based on an anonymous tip. Federal is not state.
Someone should call the DEA hotline and ask about confidentiality guarantees and whether there's any specific law or regulation that would protect their identity being revealed and protect someone from suing them. If anyone does that, and they say privacy and immunity from lawsuits are guaranteed, then ask DEA for the specific law (U.S.C. XXXX.XXX, or Public Law Y-Z, or a Supreme Court Case's name and year). Post that info here and i'll look at it.
If there's no federal law guaranteeing the anonymity and freedom from liability of the tipster, then it's likely that the caller to DEA would have any protections written into the laws of their state.
Because it's a DEA hotline, federal law would take precedence over state law but if there's no federal law on it, then state law would apply unless there was an appeal to the federal courts ... and then the federal courts would MAKE UP THE LAW.
If the caller happened to be in one state and the entity they snitched on is in a different state, and if those two states had different laws regarding anonymous tips, then it could get complicated.
It's a common mistake to think that federal courts ignore state laws. If there's no federal law governing, then federal judges are supposed to try to respect the laws of the state(s) as long as that does not run counter to the U.S. Constitution as interpreted by the federal courts.
Sound complicated? It is.
--------------------
Your mileage may vary ...
|
lincoona
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/24/04
Posts: 250
|
|
Whew! That kind of exhaustive explanation is exactly why I love this board. Thanks.
|
okdoki
Journeyman
Reged: 02/19/02
Posts: 57
|
|
Many UPS and FedEx drivers think most of the meds delivered are Viagra. They joke around a lot about it. This may explain the reactions by some of them. Have you ever seen inside those trucks? They are full, most drivers try to get off by 6:00 pm. They just want a cold one or to see their wife and kids. They have along day and one stop does not mean much.
|
sevenoaks
Newbie
Reged: 11/18/04
Posts: 37
|
|
I really don't think ups can do anything. They don't know anybodies situation. It is clearly legal shipping prescription drugs from one state to the next. Plus they don't really know whats in the package either!!! Maybe you are a doctor or a pharmisist who knows? That is the point they don't. So who are they going to call and what would they say? I deliver a package once a month to this guy and it rattles. Ok we will send someone over to arrest them right away sir.
|
karib
Member
Reged: 01/26/04
Posts: 109
Loc: new england
|
|
i almost bet myups driver does not think these are viagra, i know he knows and it freaks me out. i am not paronoid but i can tell. i am very wary of him and i am so wary that i am not going to give him cookies cause he will think i am trying to "butter him up" . so i am thinking i will start having my meds sent to the city where my mom lives and where i visit once a month anyway. this is a very very small rural area, where the sherriffs job seems to be looking for parked cars to see if anyone has been drinking and if their keys are in the ignition so he can write them a dui. or looking for underage college students to bust for underage partying. ya know its like that. and i would not doubt that our little ups hub here makes a list of people who receive CODs or anything that shakes like pills. i am so freaked out by his apparent suspicions, i feel like the town cop will be here any minute. i think i will do the city thing next time, where my mom lives they are so busy they have way better things to do then sit back and wait for calls from the ups driver!
|
lela
Old Hand
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 431
Loc: Where it never snows
|
|
Sounds like a good plan if only to ease your anxiety.
|
lela
Old Hand
Reged: 11/05/03
Posts: 431
Loc: Where it never snows
|
|
Quote:
Many UPS and FedEx drivers think most of the meds delivered are Viagra. They joke around a lot about it. This may explain the reactions by some of them. Have you ever seen inside those trucks? They are full, most drivers try to get off by 6:00 pm. They just want a cold one or to see their wife and kids. They have along day and one stop does not mean much.
Yes, and here in the city the Fed-Ex guys care even less. But if I lived out in the sticks where everyone knows you and your business I would be paranoid.
|
avonmonnj
Banned again
Reged: 10/25/04
Posts: 33
Loc: we wont get into that here
|
|
Quote:
DEA can kiss my ARSE.
And mine
|
sam001
Journeyman
Reged: 02/03/04
Posts: 80
Loc: Nordstroms
|
|
Quote:
Many UPS and FedEx drivers think most of the meds delivered are Viagra. They joke around a lot about it. This may explain the reactions by some of them. Have you ever seen inside those trucks? They are full, most drivers try to get off by 6:00 pm. They just want a cold one or to see their wife and kids. They have along day and one stop does not mean much.
I think this is true for the majority of delivery folks. However, I do recall reading about the case against David Karesh (not sure of the spelling, but the Waco Branch Davidion guy). The government obtained information from UPS. It was reported that packages fell out of the truck and the contents spilled out. Of course these were gun parts, not medication. I do think lots of UPS (and other) drivers would be eager to assist, particularly if LE suggest terrorism is supported by IOPs/OPs sending dangerous narcotics. I do think the drivers have a pretty good idea what is in the packages. When I order online for regular prescription refills, a signature is not required, let alone an adult signature. I think the only things that require an adult signature are alcohol, tobacco, firearms, and controlled substances. Seems to me there are a lot of junior G men wanttobees out there. Likely some are delivery drivers or postal employees.
Just my 2 cents.
Sam
|
dmoe
Enthusiast
Reged: 03/25/04
Posts: 240
|
|
Just don't forget to tip your driver's with cash or cookies or something, they love that stuff,
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
