Purge the Toxins from Substance Abuse through Detox

The goal of drug and alcohol detox is to help the body purge the toxins from substance abuse.  The very first step of detoxification is to support someone as they go through drug and alcohol withdrawal.  The definition of withdrawal is defined as the discontinuation of using drugs and alcohol and the physical and psychological adjustment which follows.  Once a person has stopped using drugs and alcohol, withdrawal symptoms will follow.

The length and severity of withdrawal will be different for each person, depending on what drugs or the amount of alcohol that was regularly used.  Very few people with addiction are only using one drug alone and most will suffer from poly-addiction because of using multiple substances in conjunction with alcohol. 

It is normal to see someone in a drug and alcohol detox who has been abusing alcohol along with meth, heroin or cocaine or prescription drugs, among other things.  Detox is a process which applies to individuals who have acquired a physical dependence and supervised withdrawal is the best way to diminish someone’s cravings for their substance of choice.

Drug and alcohol detox is done in many different ways depending on the type of facility that is elected.  Most detox programs will provide treatment to alleviate the symptoms of physical drug and alcohol withdrawal.   Ideally, the program you choose will help you through the use of medications and supportive therapies which are administered by experienced and compassionate detox professionals.

The duration of drug and alcohol withdrawal will normally last for about 3-5 days in total.  However, there are other people who have such severe addiction issues that going through withdrawal may take more than a week and sometimes it can last for months.

Drug and alcohol detox should include all aspects of the individual’s withdrawal from drugs and alcohol.  The removal of the toxins from drug and alcohol abuse is the key to preparing someone for seeking further drug and alcohol treatment.  If the drug and alcohol toxins are not purged from the body, it can wind up causing residual cravings a person may experience for years after having quit.

Someone going through detoxification should realize is a vital step in the healing process and for somebody with physical dependence issues, it is necessary.  An addicted person must have the accumulated toxins from drug and alcohol removed from their system, in order to build their body back up and to prepare themselves physically and psychologically for more treatment. 

You can find a drug and alcohol detox services through speaking with a treatment program or you can locate one through performing an online search for these programs in your area.  Although you may be scared about the unknown you face as you take the steps needed to become clean and sober, it should serve as a turning point in your life and give you hope for the future.  If you or someone you love is faced with a physical dependence on drugs and alcohol, please call us at the California Addiction Network today and talk to our caring clinicians and specialists about detox and let us help you.

PTSD and Trauma- Hand in Hand

Post-TraumaticStress Disorder or PTSD and Trauma disorders go hand in hand.  These are debilitating mental health disorders which follow experiencing or seeing a traumatic or tragic or frightening event in one’s life.  People with these disorders will usually experience recurrent frightening thoughts and memories of the ordeal and feel emotionally numbed from the situation.

Once referred to as “shell shock” or battle fatigue, PTSD was first brought to the attention of the public by soldiers returning from battle.  However, either disorder can develop from experiencing any number of traumatic things.  These can include rape, kidnapping, torture, violent attacks, earthquakes, fire, flood, or being held captive.  The event that triggers PTSD and trauma can be something which threatened a person’s life or the life of someone close to them.

People with PTSD and trauma disorder will repeatedly relive the situation in the form of nightmares and disturbing recollections of the experience.  The nightmares or recurrent thoughts may come and go intermittently and a person could be free from them for days, weeks, months or years at a time.  However, some individuals may experience these memories on a consistent basis for no particular reason.

PTSD and trauma can cause sleep disturbances, depression, emotional detachment and numbness and some individuals may easily be startled.  The disorder can also cause people to lose interest in things they used to enjoy and they may have issues with showing and feeling affection for others.  People with PTSD can be irritable, more aggressive than in the past and it could lead to violence.

PTSD can happen at any age and even during childhood.  The disorder can be accompanied by anxiety, depression and substance abuse.  It can make people have trouble holding a job or socializing can be extremely difficult.  In general, the symptoms of PTSD can seem to get worse if the event that triggered the disorder was caused by a person and not a tragic event such as a flood or fire.

Ordinary things and events can seem to pull the person back to the traumatic memory and it can trigger flashbacks and cause horrible images to pop up on the individual’s mind.  A flashback may make the sufferer lose touch with reality and reenact the event for a period of seconds or hours, but it can last for days in some of the most extreme cases.  A person experiencing a flashback, which can happen through images, sounds, smells, or feelings, will usually believe the event is happening to them all over again.

PTSD and trauma disorders can be treated and it is usually done through using a combination of therapy and medications to control the symptoms of the disorder.  People with PTSD should seek out help because if not, the situation can become all-consuming and take over their life completely.

If you or someone you love is suffering from PTSD or trauma disorder and you are thinking of seeking help, the time to act is now.  Please contact us at the California AddictionNetwork

and talk to us about your situation and let us help you receive the treatment you need, so you can recover and get back to living a healthy and happier life.

Life Threatening Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcoholism is horrible and in addition to being physically and emotionally destructive, it is something which will hurt the person’s family too.  The moment of clarity for many people with alcoholism is when they wake up and need a drink to just get out of bed and it is at this moment when many of them realize how important it is to seek an alcohol detox.

When someone wakes up in the morning and feels physically ill and shaking, it means the body has become accustomed to drinking alcohol and must now have it to function.  Even if somebody is deeply ashamed of their drinking and wants to stop, it is a vicious cycle of back and forth until the individual makes a commitment to change their life.

Alcoholics who are willing to go into detoxification and stop drinking are likely to experience a myriad of different withdrawal symptoms.  The most common withdrawal symptoms an alcoholic will feel when he or she suddenly stops drinking include; insomnia, headaches, dizziness, nausea, sweating, vomiting, restlessness, anxiety, cravings, hallucinations and an increase in heart rate or blood pressure.

The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be so intense and overwhelming that a person may be so desperate to make it all stop that he or she takes a drink.  However, for those individuals with alcoholism who go into an alcohol detox, success can be achieved because the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be managed and alleviated through different means.

People with alcohol dependence who go into detox have a higher rate of success than those who attempt to quit drinking on their own. The symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and the intensity will be different for each person.  Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can be potentially life threatening for people who have been engaged in heavy drinking for weeks, months of years.  Because of how complicated it can be to get someone through alcohol withdrawal, it is best to seek professional help from a detox clinic and to not try to do it on your own.

Heavy prolonged alcohol consumption can disrupt the neurotransmitters in the brain and this will affect how messages are sent and received.  Chronic alcohol consumption will also suppress the release of glutamate, which is responsible for feelings of excitement. When someone who is used to heavily drinking suddenly stops, the brain will become disrupted and it can induce anxiety, irritability, agitation, seizures, tremors and delirium tremens.

To control the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal and to help somebody get through the process with no complications, detox can be the answer.  If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism and want to stop drinking, realizing the truth about your problem is the first step and the second is making the commitment to accept detox.

Although you may have tried countless times to stop drinking on your own and failed, today can be the start of something entirely different.  You can contact us at the CaliforniaAddiction Network and find out more information about alcohol detox and how it can help to make your life better and allow you to become sober.

Senate Leader Darrell Steinberg Seeks to Restore Mental Health Fund for Inmates

Senate leader Darrell Steinberg of Sacramento said he wishes to allocate $50 million to a mental health funding program which ended in 2008, because of budget cuts.  However, the restoration of the program will depend on whether the United States grants a delay on reducing prison overcrowding. 

After nearly ten years of state funding, the Mentally Ill Offender Crime ReductionGrants ended in 2008, due to budget cuts.  Steinberg wants to restart funding of the program, beginning with $50 million in the budget next year.  However, that money being granted is contingent upon Governor Jerry Brown receiving a delay in a federal court order to reduce crowding in state prisons.

Gov. Brown had agreed to special legislation which sets aside a portion of the state’s savings for use in mental health and other services which are aimed at reducing crime, if the courts limit on the prison population is postponed.  Without such a delay, Brown intends to use those funds to send state prisoners to private facilities outside the state of California.

Steinberg stated if Brown did not succeed in convincing federal judges to extend the deadline, he would try to add the grant program to the 2014 state budget.  The judge’s cutoff date for the prison crowding settlement issue is the same day Brown must submit his yearly spending plan to the Legislature.

Many of the former state prisoners who must now be supervised by the county are mentally ill. The LA department is setting up special squads of probation officers who are specially trained to handle their needs.  It is hard to get an exact fix on just how many prisoners suffer from mental illness, but these same inmates may also come into the prison system with substance abuse issues which require comprehensive treatment and psychological services in order to treat.

Steinberg stated his proposal, which has yet to be drafted into legislation, would offer grants to fund programs such as mental health courts, where judges could send those with mental illness or addiction issues into treatment, instead of the prison system.  He said he would like to dedicate half of the grants to services for mentally ill or drug addicted juvenile offenders.

Nine counties used grants to fund mental health courts and 13 counties also targeted mentally ill offenders who had drug abuse problems too.  The report stated 53% of those in these types of programs returned to jail within two years, but 56% of those who received aid reoffended.

Large changes were noted in the drug and alcohol abuse and homeless rates. Approximately 32% of those enrolled in the state funded programs were able to become economically self-sufficient, in contrast to 24% of those who were not enrolled in the program.

These programs are life changing and it is the hope of Steinberg to change the way mental illness and addiction are addressed in the prison system.  With proper treatment and access to mental health services, it has been proven people can be treated and get better and inmates are no different than anyone else.

California Revokes Burbank Pharmacy’s License for Selling Drugs to Patients Who Died

A pharmacy in Burbank that dispensed painkillers and other narcotics to five young patients who died of overdose has had its license revoked.  The state pharmacy board found that the pharmacy employees had failed to properly investigate prescriptions that contributed to the people’s deaths.

The pharmacy, Jay Scott Drugs catered to patients of Dr. Bernard Bass and Dr. Massoud Bamdad, both of who were later convicted of crimes in connection with their prescribing habits.

By law, pharmacists are required to examine prescriptions, scrutinize customers and refuse to fill any prescriptions, if they suspect a person does not have a legitimate medical need for the drug.

Many of Dr. Bass’s patients were in their 20’s and traveled more than 40 miles from their homes in Ventura County to visit the doctor in North Hollywood and then would go another five miles to Jay Scott Drugs where they usually paid cash for a combination of medications favored by drug addicts.  Though Dr. Bamdad was a general practitioner, more than half of all the prescriptions his patients filled were for painkillers or other common drugs of abuse, according to the California Boardof Pharmacy.

The board faulted lead pharmacist Albert Daher and two of his colleagues with unquestioningly filling prescriptions, in spite of many red flags which should have raised suspicion.  The board’s decision noted the pharmacy received large financial profits from the filling of Bass’ prescriptions.

During an interview in his store, Albert Daher said he felt he had been unfairly targeted by the Pharmacy Board and resented the notion he was in it for profit and cared nothing for his patients. Four of Bass’ patients between the ages of 21 and 31 years old died of overdose within the span of a month in 2008, after receiving prescriptions filled from Jay Scott Drugs.  A fifth patient overdosed at the age of 23, after filling a prescription from Bamdad, according to information in board documents.

The board found the pharmacy at fault for feeding the addictions of four other patients who later died with the same kinds of drugs that were filled at Jay Scott Drugs.  Even if there was not sufficient evidence to prove the lethal pills were the same ones obtained at Jay Scott Drugs, the board’s decision stated the pharmacy had been routinely filling prescriptions and feeding people’s drug addiction.

The Pharmacy Board took it a step further and rejected a proposed decision of a judge, who presided over the 16-day hearing.  The judge found Bass, not Bamdad, had an obvious prescribing pattern and patient’s profiles which should have drawn the attention of Daher and other colleagues.

How Might the Affordable Care Act Revolutionize Addiction Treatment?

The Affordable Care Act came into effect January 1^st, 2014 and it requires that no insurance company may refuse to cover someone for a preexisting condition and now insurance coverage is attainable for people of lower income levels.  Obamacare’s treatment of drug addiction and alcoholism as chronic diseases that must be covered by insurance plans could help as many as 40 million U.S. citizens enter treatment, according to information from the California Health Report.

Recent government statistical data shows that around 24 million aged 12 years and older are in need of treatment for a substance abuse issue, but only 11% of them will receive it at a professional drug and alcohol treatment program.  The national average cost for entering a substance abuse treatment program is around $4,000 for admission and outpatient programs run an average of $1,500 for a course of treatment.

The passage of Obamacare could help eliminate the cost barriers for people who may not have otherwise been able to financially afford to seek drug and alcohol treatment.  Dr. Thomas McLellan, former deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy said in an interview with the California Health Report, “I don’t think there’s another illness that will be more affected by the Affordable Care Act.”

Drug addiction, alcoholism and substance abuse have not always been considered as chronic illnesses.  However, since opiate abuse is on the rise in America, alcoholism and other addiction issues cost the country about $120 billion per year in health care spending, the new law places the emphasis on both treatment and prevention.  The Affordable Care Act forces insurers to cover the cost of rehab and encourages medical professionals to screen patients for possible drug or alcohol addictions.

Screening someone for a potential substance abuse or addiction issue can also prevent other chronic diseases from forming or becoming worse, especially since many people with these issues do not seek health care services because of the associated stigma and exorbitant costs.  The Affordable Care Act could also wind up driving up healthcare costs indirectly, because of causing other medical issues.  Doctors are hoping the ACA’s two-pronged approach to substance abuse could help curb addictions and reduce healthcare spending substantially.

If you have specific questions about how the Affordable Care Act could positively impact your treatment experiences, you can call us at the California Addiction Network for further information.  Now more than ever before, the cost of drug and alcohol treatment could be more affordable and it is the right time to find out if you qualify to be covered under the Affordable Care Act.  Do not wait any longer, because you could finally have access to the services and treatment you need to change your entire life.

California Drug Overdose Deaths on the Rise

The number of deaths from drug overdoses in the state of California, most of which were due to prescription medications, increased by 31% from 1999 to 2010, according to recently released information.  These statistics are quite frightening, but how they compare with other states may surprise you.

California surprisingly fared better than many states in relation to overdose deaths and it came in with the 15^th lowest drug-overdose mortality rate in America.  Approximately 10.6 per 100,000 people suffered fatal overdoses in 2010, according to the “Prescription Drug Abuse: Strategies to Stop the Epidemic,” which was released by the nonprofit group Trust for America’s Health. While most states received a score of 6 or less, California scored an 8 on a scale of 10, for “promising indicators,” on strategies to curb prescription drug abuse.

According to Billie Weiss, the associate director of the Southern California Injury and Violence Research Prevention Program at UCLA, “We’ve been working at it, but we can do better.  We can be using our pharmacy prescribing database to really keep better track of physicians who are overprescribing…We have drug shoppers who go to a bunch of physicians and get prescriptions; using that prescribing database would really help identify some of those folks.”

While California has an active prescription drug monitoring database called C.U.R.E.S, for certain types of controlled substances, it does not make it mandatory for physicians to report every patient’s information.  As of 2014, approximately 33 other states, including; Alaska, Florida, Kansas, Minnesota, New Jersey, South Dakota, Oregon, Wisconsin, Washington, New Hampshire, Delaware, Virginia, Texas, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Vermont, Maine, Mississippi, Alabama, South Carolina, Tennessee, Iowa, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming and others have implemented prescription drug monitoring programs.

California has been given points for many indicators, including having a “doctor shopping law” and a “good Samaritan law.”  The “doctor shopping law” prohibits people from withholding information about prior prescriptions from their health care professionals, while the “good Samaritan law” provides someone with immunity or lessening of a sentence for those who seek help from themselves or someone else experiencing a drug overdose.

Nationally, overdose deaths involving prescription medications, specifically painkillers, have quadrupled since 1999, and now outnumber those deaths from cocaine and heroin combined.

Prescription drug abuse and misuse have reached epidemic proportions and it warrants a strong public health response.  California Governor Jerry Brown recently signed two new bills into law aimed at curbing prescription drug abuse.  The first one is SB 670 and it gives the state medical board the authority to inspect and copy medical records of a deceased patient without a court order or the consent of the next of kin.  The second bill SB 809, increases practitioners licensing fees in order to fund an overhaul of the C.U.R.E.S system database, which some doctors now consider too difficult to use.

We at the California Addiction Network applaud the recent laws passed to aid in protecting people from death by drug overdose. However, we are also realistic in that we know there are countless numbers of people who are in need of help and we invite them to call us today, because the longer you play around with drugs the worse your life will become.

The United States and Italy Cracking Down on Mafia Drug Smuggling

Italian and American authorities said Tuesday, February 11^th, 2014,  that they have broken up a new heroin and cocaine trafficking drug ring coordinated by Italy’s powerful ‘Ndrangheta’ organized crime syndicate and New York’s famous Gambino mafia crime family.  Seventeen individuals were placed under arrest in Italy and another seven were arrested in New York, officials said.

The investigation just highlighted how ‘Ndrangheta’ is spreading its influence and operations beyond the borders of Italy, as it coordinates its position as one of the world’s most powerful drug trafficking organizations.  It also underscored how ‘Ndrangheta’ that is based in the Southern region of Calabria, is  now encroaching on territory which was once occupied by the Sicilian-based Cosa Nostra, since the Gambino’s were in the Sicilian mafia’s American branch.

The anti-mafia Italian police stated the “New Bridge” operation targeted a new cocaine trafficking route via South America to the Southern Italian port of Gioia Tauro which united the Gambino’s with the ‘Ndrangheta.” In exchange, the Italians were to traffic their heroin directly into the United States market.

The aim of the Italian and American mafia alliance was to “build a bridge of criminality and corruption to stretch from South America to Italy and back to New York,” stated Marshall Miller, a top prosecutor in the United States Attorney’s office in Brooklyn.

Through the use of wiretaps and an undercover agent called “Jimmy” who infiltrated the NY mob, officials say they have thwarted the delivery to Italy of some 500 kilograms of pure cocaine.  The shipment was to have been hidden among canned coconuts and pineapples on its way from Guyana to Gioia Tauro, in Northern Italy.

Raffaele Grassi, head of the Italian police’s central operative service unit stated, “The ‘Ndrangheta’ can and has to be considered one of the most powerful organizations in the world for handling international drug trafficking. The ‘Ndrangheta’ has left its territory of origin; beyond occupying areas of our country and infiltrating itself in Northern Italy, the ‘Ndrangheta’ is looking for criminals beyond the border, invading new markets to make profit.”

The FBI worked with the Italian police in Italy and vice versa, and Miller and other officials from the U.S. Attorney’s office in Brooklyn were on hand in Rome for the press conference announcing the information about the arrests.  The Italian suspects have been accused of mafia association and drug trafficking, along with various other charges.  Miller stated one of the American based suspects was accused of money laundering through a Brooklyn based bank and that several hundred thousand dollars was also seized during the investigation.

There are many reasons why we, at the California Addiction Network are ecstatic about this revelation, because any drugs removed from the streets are a good thing.  We ask you to please consider right now, if your drug abuse has escalated to the point of becoming uncontrollable and if so, you should contact us right now without delay, because your entire future and life are on the line.

Antioch, CA House Fire Reveals a Marijuana Growing House

A house fire in Antioch, CA led investigators to discover an indoor marijuana growing house.  In January 2014, nearly 1,000 marijuana plants and cultivating equipment were seized by police after the place caught on fire.

A neighbor on Hidden Glen Drive saw the home’s electrical panel sparking and called 9-1-1 around 9:00 p.m.  Firefighters found a number of marijuana plants inside the home and called the police. Nobody was home at the time of the fire, so there were no injuries to report.  A power company worker inspected the electrical panel to see if it is possibly what caused the house to catch fire.

The fire appears to have originated in the home’s dining room, but was quickly brought under control.  The home’s owners rigged the home’s electrical system to bypass the utility meter and the set-up is what had caused the electric panel to overheat.

Police removed 960 plants from the two-story house located in the 4500 block of Hidden Glen Drive, after serving a search warrant on the home hours after fireman put out the blaze.  The one-alarm fire began in a wall behind a fuse box and fire crews had it put out within minutes of it starting, according to fire inspector Steven Aubert of the Contra Costa Fire Protection District.

Abuert stated, “What’s fortunate is that it was a brand new home and it contained a sprinkler system.  That kept the fire to its point of origin.  The damage sustained was very minimal.”

Morefield stated the house was part of a large-scale marijuana growing operation.  At the present time, police are still trying to identify and locate the owners of the home.   Anybody with information about the fire is urged to call the Antioch, California Police Department at (925) 779-6895.

California Drug Bust Had Connections to Cartel

After a yearlong investigation using wiretaps, undercover police informants, and purchases of automatic weapons, federal authorities facilitated raids in Merced, Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties in California.  The large scale drug trafficking operation was found to have ties to the Sinaloa drug cartel in Mexico.

The raids were conducted in locations throughout the Valley early on Wednesday, January 29^th, 2014, and it resulted in eleven people being arrested and the police seized weapons, marijuana and methamphetamine.  According to a search warrant unsealed Wednesday in U.S. District County, the investigation focused around adjoining horse ranches on Almond Avenue in Patterson which were owned by Augustin Ramirez.

According to U.S. Justice Department spokeswoman, Lauren Horwood, “Evidence uncovered during the investigation indicates the ring used sophisticated methods to conceal and smuggle the contraband, including commercial trucks with hollowed out drive shafts and vehicles equipped with hidden compartments.”

Federal investigators stated the drug ring has ties to the Mexican cartel which is headed by Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman.  Two horse ranches in Stanislaus County were among those searched and during the investigation, police found five indoor marijuana growing operations, nearly 60 pounds of processed marijuana, meth and more than $20,000 in cash.  Officials believed the organization was growing marijuana and distributing methamphetamine.

In total, police authorities seized about 90 pounds of methamphetamine, three firearms and an undisclosed amount of cash.  According to the United States Immigrationand Customs Enforcement I.C.E., at least 6 of the 11 people who were arrested in the raids faced federal drug trafficking and weapons charges, including suspected ring leader, Francisco “Paco” Felix.

At the current time, at least four other people are still being sought in connection with the raids.

Investigators started buying methamphetamine, cocaine and marijuana from suspects including Francisco Felix and Martinez.   The investigation into the drug ring was first launched in January of 2013 and court documents outline a long history of purchases of marijuana and methamphetamine and later illegal weapons.

On September 19^th, 2013, Francisco Felix reportedly told a person working with investigators that he could get at least 200 pounds of methamphetamine which had been cooked and stored in Culiacan.  Felix reportedly bragged about the shipment stating it had “never been stepped on,” meaning it was pure.

Authorities searched six different locations in Patterson, three in Ceres, two in Tracy and Newman and one in each Stevinson, Modesto, Stockton, Turlock and Mountain House, according to court affidavits.  Around 25 sheriffs’ deputies and other law enforcement officials from Merced County participated in the early-morning raids.  Authorities in Merced and Stanislaus counties referred questions about the raid to state and federal agencies.

It is not clear Wednesday if any of the arrests were made in Merced County and police are pleased with the outcome and the amount of narcotics, weapons and cash that were seized.

$7 Million in Marijuana Found in Electronics Shipment in Tustin, CA

Approximately 12 tons of marijuana with a street value of $7 million was found hidden among a shipment of electronics in a tractor-trailer in Tustin, California.  Police responding to a report of a possible attempted cargo theft in the 1100 block of Warner Avenue discovered the drugs, after the driver of the trailer contacted them.

The driver of the rig believed he was transporting a simple shipment of electronics from San Diego, California to Tustin.  He told police he was traveling through Orange County when two men in a white cargo van pulled up next to him and the passenger demanded he pull over.  The passenger showed some kind of badge on a chain which was dangling from around his neck and it made the driver uneasy and suspicious.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was suspicious about the unprofessional look and demeanor of the men in the cargo van and so he pulled into a local business where an armed security guard was stationed.  At that time the truck driver called the police to report the incident.  The van lingered in the area for a bit afterwards, but fled the scene when police arrived.

The police later determined that no law enforcement agency was involved in trying to stop the big rig.  During an inspection of the tractor-trailer which was tightly packed, police discovered approximately 12 tons of marijuana concealed in bricks and hidden among the many boxes.  The marijuana had a street value of more than $7 million, which was a great strike against the battle to keep drugs off of the streets.

The van driver was described as a Hispanic male about 30-years of age and he had a shaved head.  The passenger was also described as being Hispanic, with a thin build and he was wearing what appeared to be a black ballistics type vest.  The driver of the tractor-trailer was not suspected in aiding the transport of the drugs and was not placed under arrest for the incident.

Police are still seeking information and leads about the crime and are asking the public to become involved.  People with any information about the case are encouraged to contact Detective Haug at(714) 573-3246.

Big Drug Bust in Riverside County, California

Police deputies recovered marijuana, hash, various prescription pills, crack, cocaine and meth in a recent drug raid in Riverside, California.  Two dozen high school students were arrested for allegedly selling illegal drugs on their campuses.

The Riverside County Sherriff’s office said they were able to identify 23 juvenile students and two adults between Perris High School in Perris and Paloma Valley High School in Meniffee who were involved in selling drugs during the past four months of an undercover investigation.  Police posing as high school students were used as decoys to gather information and evidence against the drug ring.

The underage students were taken to Juvenile Hall and the adult students were transported to a detention center in Murietta.  Perris Union High School Superintendent Jonathan Greenberg emailed parents and stated “I want the students to know we have ways to deter them from this.  It is our obligation to do our best to keep our campuses clean.”

The Riverside County Sherriff’s office was still searching for one more student believed to have something to do with the matter.  A female and male police officer posed as high school students starting in August of 2013.  Greenberg stated the operation was a highly secret activity done in order to protect the safety of the officers and to avoid compromising the integrity of the investigation.

The sheriff’s office reached out to the school district officials in order to get permission to conduct the undercover sting operation, before it started.  The Special Investigations Bureau collects information about the drug sales and drug use going on in Riverside County, to help find out where the substances are being trafficked from and in order to put an end to the rampant drug problem facing California’s youth.

17 Million in Narcotics and 17 Arrested

It is being touted as one of the biggest drug raids in California history, but on Thursday, January 16^th, 2014 police in West Contra Costa County made 17 arrests and seized more than $17 million in narcotics, weapons and cash. 

A two year investigation known as “Operation Crystal Lens,” started leading to arrests in November of 2013, after a narcotics team known as West-NET was formed.  The team involved the FBI, San Pablo Police Department and other law enforcement officials and agencies.

The sting resulted in the seizure of more than 475 pounds of methamphetamine, 158 grams of cocaine, guns with high capacity magazines, cars, and motorcycles and close to a million dollars in cash.  The methamphetamine had a street value of around $17 million according to Commander Jeff Palmieri.

The Police did not identify those who were arrested, but did say they were tied to the Norento street drug gang.  One suspect, who has been identified as Gabriel Urtis, remains at large, police said.

The operation revealed that the narcotics seized in the raid were supplied by the Mexican-based Sinaloa drug cartel.  The cartel has also been referred to as the Federation and Blood Alliance and at times, it has been thought of as the most powerful drug trafficking network in the world.

The investigation also revealed the drugs and weapons trafficked and the proceeds were laundered by different criminal street gangs.  Police have not yet revealed where the raids and investigation took place over the last few months, the only thing that was revealed were that the raids were held over various sites located in West Contra Costa County.

Officers from 10 local crime agencies made up the West-NET team which is under the supervision of the California Department of Justice task force.  Other agencies included in the coordinated efforts included the Northern California High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, the FBI, Contra Costa County Sherriff’s Office and Probation Department and the Richmond, San Pablo, Pinole, Kensington and Hercules Police Departments.

East County Today- 17 Million in Narcotics and 17 Arrested

The Heroin Overdoses in Western Pennsylvania Have Reached Epidemic Proportions

At least 22 people have died in the past several weeks of a fatal combination of heroin mixed with Fentanyl.  The deaths are happening in Western Pennsylvania and authorities believe the deaths are coming from heroin called “Theraflu,” Bud Ice,” or “Income Tax.”

The death of Hollywood actor Philip Seymour Hoffman on February 2^nd has brought new found attention to heroin and all the fatal overdoses the drug has recently caused in Western Pennsylvania. Heroin use is cyclical and the most recent surge in abuse has been fueled by the rise in prescription drug abuse.  The deaths from heroin overdose have quadrupled since 1999 according to a report released by the Trust for America’s Health.

Researchers state painkillers like Percocet and OxyContin often prescribed legally by doctors are behind the latest heroin epidemic.  People become hooked on prescription drugs and switch over to heroin because it is easier to find and much cheaper than abusing prescription medications.

Rep. Gene DiGirolamo (R. Bucks) is sponsoring a bill which would expand Pennsylvania’s prescription drug database.  He stated his bill, a version which passed the House late last year, would open up the prescription drug database to pharmacists and doctors so they could determine who is doctor shopping and who has a genuine need for painkiller medications.

A second bill, a version of the one which passed the Senate in December 2013, would expand the states Good Samaritan law.  The law would make it legal for someone to seek medical attention for someone who is experiencing a drug overdose; the current law only applies to cases involving alcohol.

In Western Pennsylvania, investigators have been stepping up the efforts in the war against heroin.  Law enforcement officials seized bags of heroin in six counties, many of them stamped with “Theraflu,” “Bud Ice” and “Magic City.”  The spread of the toxic mixture of heroin appears to have shifted to the Philadelphia area, at least for the current time.

Philadelphia city officials state Southeastern Pennsylvania has experienced no recent “Theraflu” heroin overdose deaths, because the quality of the drug going through the area is highly pure.  Though official statistical information is not yet available for 2013, it is clear the state of Pennsylvania is definitely in trouble and more must be done as far as measures to remove lethal heroin from the streets and arresting the dealers who sell the insidious drug.

 TRIBLIVE- Overdoses reach epidemic proportions

  

 The Poison Review- Heroin/Fentanyl drug overdoses in PA

Phillip Seymour Hoffman: From Oscar Winner to Victim of Heroin Overdose

Oscar-winning actor Phillip Seymour Hoffman was a versatile actor who has played everything from a drag queen to Truman Capote, has died.  Hoffman aged 46 years old, was found unconscious in his New York apartment at 11:15 a.m. on February 2, 2014.  According to a law enforcement official speaking to ABC News, Hoffman was found with a hypodermic needed containing heroin, sticking out of his arm.

According to the Associated Press, glassine envelops which contained what is believed to be heroin were also found with his body.  All of the evidence from the apartment is being tested and points to a probable drug overdose.

In May of 2013, Hoffman had undergone treatment at a rehabilitation program for issues which substance abuse, particularly heroin.  He spoke openly in the past about his struggles with drug addiction and after being sober for more than two decades, the actor experienced a relapse last year.

Hoffman won Best Actor Academy Award and the Golden Globes Best Performance by an Actor in the Motion Picture Drama for his 2005 portrayal of Truman Capote, in the film “Capote.”  He was also nominated for three Best Supporting Actor Oscars for the movies, “The Master,” “Doubt, “and “Charlie Wilson’s War.”

The actor graduated with a BFA in drama from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University, in 1989. Hoffman’s breakthrough role was in the 1997 film “Boogey Nights and he quickly became well known for his leading and supporting roles.  The actor also starred in the films “Happiness, “Flawless,” “The Talented Mr. Ripley, “Magnolia,’ “Almost Famous,” and “State and Main.”

More recently Hoffman starred as Plutarch Heavensbee in the hit movies “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”  Hoffman had already filmed another installment in the series, “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part I,” which is currently filming and set to be released in November 2014.

Hoffman leaves behind a long-term partner and three young children.  His family has released the following statement, “We are devastated by the loss of our beloved Phil and appreciate the outpouring of love and support we have received from everyone.  This is a tragic and sudden loss and we ask that you respect our privacy during this time of grief. Please keep Phil in your thoughts and prayers.”

The cause of death is currently under investigation with the exact cause of death to be made public on Monday. The cause of death is under investigation with the exact cause of death to be made public on Monday.

ABC News- Phillip Seymour Hoffman's Death

USA Today- Phillip Seymour Hoffman Dies