Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Restraining Order Allows Two Florida CVS Pharmacies to Keep Selling Controlled Drugs

By Join Together Staff | February 8, 2012 | Leave a comment | Filed inCommunity Related, Drugs, Legal, Prescription Drugs & Prevention

A federal judge has granted CVS a temporary restraining order, which will allow the company to continue to sell controlled prescription drugs at two pharmacies in Florida. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) raided the pharmacies last weekend andsuspended their licenses to dispense controlled substances.

Reuters reports Judge Amy Berman Jackson, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., said it was likely CVS will be able to show that the DEA did not establish the “imminent danger to public health” that is needed to suspend pharmacies’ registrations.

According to a DEA statement, the two pharmacies were “filling prescriptions far in excess of the legitimate needs of its customers.” While the average pharmacy in the United States in 2011 ordered approximately 69,000 oxycodone dosage units, these two pharmacies, located about 5.5 miles apart, together ordered more than three million dosage units during the same year, according to the DEA. The agency said the pharmacies knew, or should have known, that a large number of the prescriptions for controlled substances that it filled were not issued for a legitimate medical purpose, or were issued outside the usual course of professional practice.

CVS said it would suffer irreparable harm if it were forced to stop filling prescriptions at the pharmacies. The judge noted the company has already agreed to stop selling oxycodone and other Schedule II drugs at these pharmacies while the case is under review. The DEA suspension would have prevented the pharmacies from filling prescriptions for any controlled substance, including painkillers, stimulants and tranquilizers.

A CVS spokesperson said the company had taken steps, with the DEA’s knowledge, to stop filling prescriptions from physicians thought to be prescribing controlled narcotics improperly.

Eminem Thanks His Kids for Keeping Him in Recovery

by John LeeGoogle+ Twitter Facebook

Eminem says that although he sees an addiction counselor every week, what really keeps him clean and sober is his love for his children, saying, "I love them so much and they've helped me through so many things.”

The 37 year old rapper is now 2 years in recovery from a length battle with prescription drugs. During the depths of his addiction he admits he was taking, “anything that anybody was giving to me" including the methadone pills that he admits almost killed him.

Eminem, who opens up about his battle with addiction once again on his just released album, ‘recovery’ says that he couldn’t find what he needed at a drug rehab. He explains, "I felt like Bugs Bunny in rehab. When Bugs Bunny walks into rehab, people are going to turn and look. People at rehab were stealing my hats and pens and notebooks and asking for autographs. I couldn't concentrate on my problem."

It took a near death experience in 2007 for Eminem to finally realize that he needed to make some major changes in his life. Telling his story he says, “I had overdosed in 2007, like right around Christmas in 2007... I pretty much almost died. You know, I pulled through and went home and relapsed less than a month later and I literally shot back up to the amount of pills I was taking, shot right back up to where I overdosed... Kind of I scared myself, like, Yo! I need to, I need help. Like I can't beat this on my own.”

Read more: Eminem Thanks His Kids for Keeping Him in Recovery

Willie Nelson Arrested for Marijuana Possession

by John LeeGoogle+ Twitter Facebook

On the road again Willie Nelson may be in trouble again after border patrol agents found 6 ounces of marijuana on his tour bus Friday morning.

At a border patrol check point in Sierra Blanca Texas, an agent smelled marijuana wafting from Nelson’s tour bus, and when he entered to investigate, the agent found approximately 6 ounces of marijuana.

Sierra Blanca Sheriff’s deputies were called to the scene and arrested the 77 year old singer, and 3 others, on marijuana possession charges. The singer is now free on $2500 bail after being held briefly.

Nelson, who makes no secret of his love for marijuana, has been arrested on possession charges in the past.

Snoop Dog Accused of Marketing Booze to Kids

by John LeeGoogle+ Twitter Facebook

Alcohol industry watchdog, The Marin Group, says Snoop Dog is using his influence with youth to help sell Blast, a juice flavored alcopop with a whopping 12% alcohol by volume, to underage consumers.

In a statement, Marin CEO Lee Levingston derided the product, saying, "While the federal government was shutting down dangerous caffeinated alcohol, Pabst Brewing Company was cooking up 'Blast,' a super sweet, fruit-flavored, supersized alcopop containing as much alcohol as four and a half cans of beer. Joose, Four Loko, Tilt, and now Blast are racing to the bottom to harm youth.

The Marin Group would like to see California lawmakers ban the drink, which they call dangerous and similar to now federally banned drinks like Four Loko. Blast, which is scheduled for release next month, is sold in 23 ounce cans, each containing as much alcohol as 4 and a half standard cans of beer. The cans feature a bubblegum-wrapper design and sweet juice flavors that mask the taste of alcohol.

Among those that hope that Blast never makes it to retail shelves are New York City Councilman Robert Jackson and John Challis of Daytop Treatment Services. Challis argues that the product could easily be confused as a non alcoholic beverage, saying, "You look at this product, and you think it's a fruit drink” and Jackson has already called for an NYC ban on the sale of Blast, with an aide of his arguing, "Blast, along with similar drinks, is specifically targeted to younger people. In the short term, a drink like this masks and shrouds the effects of alcohol. That's dangerous for our young people."

Snoop Dog has yet to comment on the criticism of his endorsement.

Read more: Snoop Dog Accused of Marketing Booze to Kids

Tuesday, February 7, 2012

CLEARING A CRIMINAL RECORD IN PA

Pardon

A pardon relieves an individual of the consequences, generally in the nature of legal disabilities, resulting from conviction for a crime. Approximately 85 percent of the clemency applications the Board receives are for pardons, the balance for commutation of sentences. A pardon constitutes total forgiveness by the state, makes the crime as if it never happened and allows a job applicant to deny he was ever convicted of the crime without worry of any sanction. It is recommended though, that such a denial be explained to be based on the existence of a pardon from the Governor.

Eligibility

There are no minimum eligibility requirements, however, the applicant should be able to demonstrate a reasonable period of time having elapsed since the crime (sufficient to show rehabilitation) and successful completion of all court-imposed requirements such as probation, parole, and payment of all fines and costs.

How to Apply for a Pardon

The Board of Pardons application cannot be obtained online and an online

version from another source will not be accepted. At the present time, the

only means of obtaining a Board of Pardons application is through the mail

directly from the Board of Pardons Office.

To obtain an application send a money order, certified check, cashier's check,

institution check or law firm check in the amount of $8.00,

made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Personal checks and cash are not accepted. This fee is non-refundable.

Enclose a letter requesting an application along with a self-addressed business

size envelope with $.65 postage.

Mail these items to the following address: Board of Pardons
333 Market Street
15th Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126

Upon receipt of the $8.00 fee, you will be mailed an application for clemency,

along with a complete set of instructions.

Incarcerated Applicant Instructions.doc

Non-Incarcerated Applicant Instructions.doc