Pain Management Physician Facing Federal Murder Charges Related to Prescription Drug Distribution
A doctor in Georgia looked the other way as addicts filled the waiting room to get more drugs. Thirteen patients have died so far, and Dr. Green, along with his assistant and a pharmacist, face 118 federal charges that include administering and prescribing drugs “not for a legitimate medical purpose and outside the usual course of professional practice.”
The Ease of Obtaining Prescription Drugs
Two separate witnesses have testified that Dr. Green catered to addicts looking for a fix. Patients sat around most of the day waiting for their name to be called, all the while going through withdrawal symptoms — “jonesing” for more drugs.
Brief appointments included little more than checking to see if the patient was still breathing and their heart was still beating. Prescriptions were pre-signed and attached to the chart before Dr. Green even entered the exam room. On the days he was out of the office, Dr. Green would simply have his assistant hand them out to patients who had scheduled (and paid for) an appointment.
When patients showed up with track marks from injecting the drugs, Dr. Green paid no attention and just went on handing out more prescriptions.
Word got around pretty quick that if you needed more drugs, Dr. Green was the guy to see. Just fill out a questionnaire and tell him what kind of drugs you wanted “for the pain” and come back every 21 days for another refill.
The Risk of Prescription Drug Addiction
Drug addiction, even prescription drug addiction, is extremely dangerous. Thirteen families so far have had to plan funerals as a direct result of Dr. Green’s actions. It’s far better to take action before the worst happens, so let’s talk about three of the more popular drugs requested at Dr. Green’s office and the signs to look for if someone you know is addicted.
OxyContin (oxycodone) – Everyone taking this pain medication is at risk for addiction, and not just those people who get it illegally. Feelings of panic and intense urgency when the drug is decreased or discontinued are the first signs of physical dependency. Be on the lookout for restless sleep (insomnia), joint and muscle pain, abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, nervousness (anxiety), and irritability.
Soma (carisoprodol) – A muscle relaxant rarely prescribed for medical purposes because it can pass from a mother to her unborn child, be transmitted through breastmilk, and is fatal if too much of the drug is taken at once. Its main side effect is sedation (sleepiness), often accompanied by dizziness, poor coordination, depression or agitation, headache, facial flushing, rapid heart rate, fainting, nausea and vomiting, stomach complaints, insomnia, and shaking (tremors).
Lortab – an opioid concoction of acetaminophen (Tylenol) and hydrocodone for alleviating pain.
Addiction brings about drowsiness, fatigue, constipation, nausea, allergic reactions, moodiness, mental fogginess, decreased motor control, dry mouth, and breathing problems (respiratory depression).
Mixing any of these drugs with depressive substances like alcohol, muscle relaxants, or tranquilizers is truly a recipe for a disaster. Combinations of these and other drugs increase the effects – and the risks – exponentially.
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