It's that time of year again. This particular year Independence Day falls on a Thursday and many people are taking an extended weekend which usually means over-indulging in liquor. The police will be out in force starting tonight and throughout the weekend. There will be DUI checkpoints in Pinellas County and if you've been drinking or taking drugs, even prescription drugs, you can get charged with DUI. This goes for boaters too. If you're stopped and submit to a breathalyzer and blow a … [Read more...]
Driving While High-DUI and Marijuana Use
Medical marijuana is legal in Florida. However, that doesn't mean you can drive after smoking a joint, or does it? Nearly 15 million people report driving while high on pot, making them twice as likely to be involved in a crash, a new AAA study has found. The AAA study cites research that driving while cannabis-impaired approximately doubles car crash risk, and that around one in 10 regular cannabis users develop dependence, according to a National Center for Biotechnology Information … [Read more...]
Pill Sharing is Illegal and Dangerous
It's a common misconception that prescription pill sharing is no big deal, especially taking a pill from the medicine cabinet of a family member. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are both federal and state laws that make using or sharing prescription drugs illegal. If you take a pill that was prescribed to someone else or give that pill to another person, not only is it against the law, it's extremely dangerous. According to the National Council on Patient … [Read more...]
Pinellas Opens Up on Treatment Rather Than Jail for Drug Users
Most people who are arrested for drug use or possession in Pinellas County wind up in the county jail facing criminal charges. While incarcerated, they receive no treatment and often recidivize upon release. Pinellas County Commission Kathleen Peters wants that to change. Beginning July 1, Pinellas County will have access to 10 beds for individuals suffering from drug or alcohol abuse. That’s 10 more beds than the county currently has. By comparison, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties … [Read more...]
Big Pharma’s Hypocrisy
Opioid manufacturer Purdue sought to create a drug to combat the effects of opioid abuse so they could profit from both end of the pharmaceutical spectrum. In an NPR Newshour piece, it was noted that "The family behind OxyContin raked in billions of dollars as it pushed to keep patients on the powerful painkiller longer despite evidence that the drug was helping to fuel the nation’s deadly opioid crisis, Massachusetts authorities allege in newly public court documents. While aggressively … [Read more...]
