(06-25-2018 06:59 PM)Barney Wrote:  

(06-25-2018 04:13 PM)billstudabaker Wrote:  

(06-21-2018 03:51 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I don't have much respect for the pill mill pain management doctors in this business.

I understand where you're coming from, but I was at a local biotech event a few months back and met a youngish MD who had left his practice and returned to business school because of his disgust at insurance companies who consistently denied coverage for safer (and more expensive) pain management medications, which affected a significant portion of his patients, in favor of the dirt cheap opioids. It's just one data point, but I suspect there are a lot of his peers who feel stuck between a rock and a hard place.

This statement by your youngish acquaintance tells me that he never actually came around to a true understanding of pain and opioid addiction at all. (and this unfortunately is the rule, rather than the exception)

I'm a doctor with thousands of patients, and I have less than a handful on chronic opioids for non-cancer pain....and these few are on an extremely short leash. I am ashamed to say that this crisis falls squarely on doctors' shoulders to a substantial degree.
And yes, as OO said, there are alot of "pill-mill" quacks out there who are making tons of money off addiction. And I have zero respect for them too.

If you think that graphic above is shocking, try this one: Americans consume 99% of the world's supply of hydrocodone.
And, 25 to 40% of opioids prescribed for "chronic pain" (in reality, simply opioid-dependence) have been shown to be diverted directly for sale on the street.

I have had two prescriptions for hydrocodone in my entire life. Both for post surgery pain management. The first time I found the medication very effective and it allowed me to have a wonderful nap. The second time, I couldn’t tell I had taken it. And these events were about a decade apart.

Channel 13 anchor on their 5 pm news just called Rice University a high school.

Of course her co-anchor said the Astros had just won their series vs. Cleveland. He at least corrected himself.

Quote:The county district attorney's office says in a news release that 21-year-old Blain Padgett thought he was buying hydrocodone from Mouchantaf but actually received pills containing carfentanil, which was originally made as an elephant tranquilizer and is so potent that a lethal dose could be invisible to the human eye.

Source: http://www.espn.com/college-football/sto...atform=amp

The question now is, who else was he selling to and who else is at risk?

Goes without saying, this is a sad and extremely ****** situation.

Statement by the Padgett family

Quote:"On March 1 of this year my son, Blain Padgett, made an unfortunate decision to buy what he thought was a pain pill from someone he trusted. That pill contained carfentanil, a highly toxic drug not meant for human consumption. Blain always took responsibility for the decisions he made and never made excuses. So I'm here to speak for him. He did make a bad decision and it cost him his life.

I expect these individuals responsible for making, distributing and selling this poison to take responsibility and to also pay for this crime.

I want to thank HPD for their hard work and, especially Detective Mike Miller, for seeing this investigation through and arresting Stuart Mouchantaf, who admitted to selling this deadly pill to Blain.

The Padgett family is not about drama, but we want other mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends to learn from our tragedy. We don't want another family to endure the pain we're enduring right now."

(10-05-2018 05:16 PM)Antarius Wrote:  Statement by the Padgett family

Quote:"On March 1 of this year my son, Blain Padgett, made an unfortunate decision to buy what he thought was a pain pill from someone he trusted. That pill contained carfentanil, a highly toxic drug not meant for human consumption. Blain always took responsibility for the decisions he made and never made excuses. So I'm here to speak for him. He did make a bad decision and it cost him his life.
I expect these individuals responsible for making, distributing and selling this poison to take responsibility and to also pay for this crime.
I want to thank HPD for their hard work and, especially Detective Mike Miller, for seeing this investigation through and arresting Stuart Mouchantaf, who admitted to selling this deadly pill to Blain.
The Padgett family is not about drama, but we want other mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends to learn from our tragedy. We don't want another family to endure the pain we're enduring right now."

Prayers for them. God bless them.

(10-05-2018 10:59 AM)gsloth Wrote:  I've got to believe there will be more, if they can get the information. At a minimum, there is probably a compounding pharmacy (or a black market version) that created this abomination of a pill. I'm pretty certain the elephant tranquilizer isn't normally included with the hydrocodone in a normal pharmacy production line.

These "knockoff" narcotics have the same size, shape, and markings of the legit Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen that you can obtain with an Rx from CVS and Walgreens. They are usually made in Asia and smuggled into the USA through Mexico and Central America. The victim has no warning that they are taking a doctored substance until they experience the adverse effects.

Counterfeit narcotics containing Fentanyl killed Prince and hospitalized Demi Lovato. The substance in Padgett's case was Carfentanil which is much more potent than Fentantl.

Recent DEA restrictions on prescribing C-2 opioids for pain management has reduced diversion of "legitimate" Hydrocodone pills to the "Street Market." This increases the demand for knockoff pills that incorporate unknown substances.

(10-05-2018 05:16 PM)Antarius Wrote:  Statement by the Padgett family

Quote:"On March 1 of this year my son, Blain Padgett, made an unfortunate decision to buy what he thought was a pain pill from someone he trusted. That pill contained carfentanil, a highly toxic drug not meant for human consumption. Blain always took responsibility for the decisions he made and never made excuses. So I'm here to speak for him. He did make a bad decision and it cost him his life.

I expect these individuals responsible for making, distributing and selling this poison to take responsibility and to also pay for this crime.

I want to thank HPD for their hard work and, especially Detective Mike Miller, for seeing this investigation through and arresting Stuart Mouchantaf, who admitted to selling this deadly pill to Blain.

The Padgett family is not about drama, but we want other mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and friends to learn from our tragedy. We don't want another family to endure the pain we're enduring right now."

God Bless this family.
Not many families have the courage and dignity to accept the truth of their beloved kid's actions. But I'm also not surprised. Rice kids and their families are special, a unique breed to be sure

I apologize, because this is really not the place, but I have two thoughts weighing heavy on my mind, and don't want to start another tread for them:

1) We start letting Pharma advertise on TV to the general public, and a few years later we have a national problem with addiction to prescription drugs.

2) One of the points Hambone has made several times about Obamacare is that their metrics for measuring patient satisfaction can spur counterproductive behaviors. Guy goes to a doc, gets told he needs to make lifestyle changes that he doesn't want to make. Goes to second doc, this one gives him a pill that doesn't address the problem, but makes him feel better. Which doc gets a higher satisfaction rating?

Not saying either of those was a factor here. In fact, I doubt they were. But those are two issues that are on my mind.

ETA: After giving this further thought, this really isn't the place for this. Mods, please move this to another tread, probably in the Kent Rowald Quad. I would also recommend that the other posts on the opioid addiction be moved there. This is such a sad story. The family really shouldn't have to read through this. Maybe we should just close down the thread and let it go in peace.

What a terrible, terrible happening. My heart goes out--again--to all his family and friends. God bless you all, and help you through this.

(10-05-2018 05:01 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Channel 13 anchor on their 5 pm news just called Rice University a high school.

Of course her co-anchor said the Astros had just won their series vs. Cleveland. He at least corrected himself.

Well, if students are using drugs and doing other immature and ill advised things, there is a point at which it begins to resemble a high school, only with vastly more difficult academics. Rice kids are hardly ever challenged by the academics. But I doubt the drug and substance abuse culture at Rice is any worse than it is at any other university. You have kids only recently deemed legal adults who now have freedoms they may not have had just a few months earlier, without the benefit of parental (or anyone else who actually cares about them) supervision. It’s sort of like having a whole new kindergarten experience where the kids have to learn to sit still and be quiet while the teacher is talking.

(10-06-2018 08:27 PM)WeatherfordOwl Wrote:  

(10-05-2018 05:01 PM)Tomball Owl Wrote:  Channel 13 anchor on their 5 pm news just called Rice University a high school.

Of course her co-anchor said the Astros had just won their series vs. Cleveland. He at least corrected himself.

Well, if students are using drugs and doing other immature and ill advised things, there is a point at which it begins to resemble a high school, only with vastly more difficult academics. Rice kids are hardly ever challenged by the academics. But I doubt the drug and substance abuse culture at Rice is any worse than it is at any other university. You have kids only recently deemed legal adults who now have freedoms they may not have had just a few months earlier, without the benefit of parental (or anyone else who actually cares about them) supervision. It’s sort of like having a whole new kindergarten experience where the kids have to learn to sit still and be quiet while the teacher is talking.

This is an ugly and frankly, disrespectful post.

How do you know Padgett was "doing immature things", as opposed to trying to treat pain? I don't know what was going on, and it's clear he made a bad decision, but please don't lecture folks if you don't know the circumstances. It makes you look like a "know-it-all", when in fact, you don't know what all was going on.

Really nice article re: Blain by John Granato today; his son JT lived with Blain before transferring:

https://houston.sportsmap.com/i-miss-blain-padgett/

(10-11-2018 12:00 PM)Scooter Wrote:  Really nice article re: Blain by John Granato today; his son JT lived with Blain before transferring:

https://houston.sportsmap.com/i-miss-blain-padgett/

Well done and worth the read. I also wish things had worked out at Rice for the Granato's. Good people.

(10-11-2018 12:00 PM)Scooter Wrote:  Really nice article re: Blain by John Granato today; his son JT lived with Blain before transferring:

https://houston.sportsmap.com/i-miss-blain-padgett/

Thanks for posting this link. A great read.

Sad ending to this story:


Ex-Rice football player pleads guilty in Blain Padgett’s opioid death

Quote:Sentencing is scheduled for May 14, when a judge will hand down between 20 years to life in prison and up to a $1 million fine.

“It’s a good warning to the community at large, from both ends — the victim and the defendant — that when you’re messing around with pills these days, it’s a dangerous gamble,” said U.S. Assistant Attorney Jason Corley.

Wish these kids would've learned to stay away from all drugs by now. Prayers for all the families and the deceased.