Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S.

The latest figures on overdoses come as pressure mounts to restrict use of prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin

Prescription drug abuse, drug-related deaths in the United States have continued to rise, the latest data show."While most things are getting better in the health world, this isn't," CDC director Tom Frieden said in an interview. "It's a big problem, and it's getting worse."

 Overdose deaths involving prescription painkillers rose to 16,651 in 2010.The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a proposal to limit daily doses of painkillers and restrict their use to 90 days or less for non-cancer patients.

 "These are dangerous drugs. They're not proven to have long-term benefit for non-cancer pain, and they're being used to the detriment to hundreds of thousands of people in this country." full article http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0330-rx-deaths-20130330,0,1604889.story

Among the most promising tools to combat the problem, Frieden said, are computerized drug monitoring programs that track prescriptions for painkillers and other commonly abused narcotics from doctor to pharmacy to patient. 

 Taking aim at "America's most abused narcotic," congressional lawmakers introduced legislation that would place tighter restrictions on the painkiller hydrocodone, which is a key contributor to the nation's prescription drug death epidemic.Sold under the brand names Vicodin, Norco and Lortab, hydrocodone-based medications "are some of the most potent and addictive narcotics on the market," U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-Fla.) said in a statement. full article http://www.latimes.com/health/la-me-rx-bill-20130321,0,2917794.story

 Prescription drugs — primarily narcotic painkillers such as hydrocodone — cause or contribute to more deaths than heroin and cocaine combined. As a result, drug fatalities have surpassed deaths from motor vehicle crashes, long the leading cause of accidental death in this country. The proposed law would place medications containing hydrocodone in same category as OxyContin, another opiate-based painkiller so potent and addictive that it's sometimes referred to as synthetic heroin. If enacted, patients would be prescribed fewer hydrocodone pills at one time, and there would be more restrictions on refills. 

 "The DEA is turning up the heat on the FDA," said Andrew Kolodny, a New York addiction doctor leading the petition.

 

 

 

Killing of a second Kaufman County, Texas, prosecutor in the past two months

Mike McLelland, District Attorney of Kaufman County answers questions at a news conference at the Kaufman Law Enforcement Center in Kaufman, Texas, Jan. 31, 2013. (The Dallas Morning News/AP Photo)

The killing of a second Kaufman County, Texas, prosecutor in the past two months has prompted authorities in Colorado to renew their investigation into possible links between those murders and the execution-style slaying of Colorado's state prisons chief.  District Attorney Mike McLelland and his wife, Cynthia, were shot to death, nearly two months after one of his assistants died in a brazen daytime shooting outside the north Texas county's courthouse.

Two months ago  Kaufman County Assistant District Attorney Mark Hasse was gunned down in what appeared to be a targeted attack, police say. Hasse was shot multiple times while walking from the parking lot toward the county courthouse.

Hasse was shot and killed the same day the U.S. Department of Justice released a statement saying the Kaufman County District Attorney's Office was involved in a racketeering case against the Aryan Brotherhood white supremacist group.

"It's unnerving to the law enforcement community, it's unnerving to the community at large," Byrnes told a news conference. "And that's why we're striving to assure the community that we are still providing public safety and will be able to do that."

On the surface, these incidents bore striking similarities to the the killing of Colorado Department of Corrections chief Tom Clements, who was killed in his home less than two weeks ago. "This whole thing is shocking to all of us," said Kaufman County Judge Bruce Wood during a Monday news conference. "I would be less than honest if I told you I was not worried."

 The deaths came almost exactly two months after Hasse was shot dead and the day McLelland vowed to bring his killer -- he used the word "scum" -- to justice.

Colorado’s top state prison official was shot and killed when he answered the front door of his house, setting off a hunt for the shooter and raising questions about whether the attack had anything to do with his job. Tom Clements, 58, was shot around 8:30 p.m.in his home on March 19, 2013, according to a statement from Gov. John Hickenlooper's office.

sources
  http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/colo-department-corrections-chief-shot-killed-article-1.1293650#ixzz2PNaXJOIJ

 

 http://www.cnn.com/2013/04/01/justice/texas-da-killed

 http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Two-Open-Fire-on-Kaufman-County-Employee-Near-Courthouse-189198761.html

 http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-03-31/news/chi-texas-prosecutor-killed-033113_1_evan-spencer-ebel-kaufman-county-district-attorney-hasse

Clinton, Illinois -Ted's Garage Fire

Clinton Fire Department's Tower 3 flows a large diameter hose stream on a stubborn fire at Ted's Garage An American Classic Grill, 808 West Van Buren Street in Clinton, Sunday, March 31, 2013. (The Pantagraph/STEVE SMEDLEY)

THE PANTAGRAPH - A wind fed fire destroyed Ted's Garage An American Classic Grill, 808 West Van Buren Street in Clinton, during an Easter afternoon fire that destroyed three buildings, Sunday, March 31, 2013.

 23 Photos

Illinois State Police Trooper James Sauter

Chicago Tribune - It was a hero's farewell Tuesday for Illinois State Police Trooper James Sauter in a church packed with mourners, most in uniforms representing dozens of police agencies across the country. Sauter, 28, was killed Thursday when a tractor-trailer plowed into the back of his parked police cruiser on a shoulder of the Tri-State Tollway near Northlake.

( Michael Tercha, Chicago Tribune / April 2, 2013 )

Illinois State troopers arrive for the funeral of Illinois State trooper James Sauter, killed in a highway crash on March 28. 

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-troopers-arrive-for-sauter-funeral-20130402,0,5523243.photo

 An investigation into the crash is ongoing, and state police have not said why Sauter was stopped or named the driver of the United Van Lines semi that hit him.
The truck driver was hospitalized with minor burns and has been questioned by authorities, but so far he has only been issued a ticket for improper lane usage in connection with the deadly wreck.

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-trooper-sauter-funeral-20130402,0,1176264.story

 http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-trooper-james-sauter-honored-20130401,0,5677496.photo

Lawmakers arrested for attempting to rig NYC mayoral election

New York State Senator

Malcolm A. Smith

(D, WF) 14th Senate District

It sure seems like there are many people in high places dropping like flies all around the globe. Since the beginning of 2013 many changes have started taken place. Yes it has been happening all along but it seems to be in free fall mode.Those who have sat in top positions are suddenly being charged, resigning, dying, or committing suicide. The part that interest me is the fact that some if not all of these people have a long standing of doing great things to all of a sudden just come into these misfortunes.Others have a history of wrong doings. It's just something that for sure makes one wonder. Below is just one example of what I am talking about.
 
This man has a long history of doing things FOR THE PEOPLE. He changed the way of politics making way for there to be transparency and truth in the way of his policies. Once seeing some of the things hes acompolished makes one wonder if someone higher on the food chain may not of liked the changes, however, he does have a history of questionable spending and dealings but no charges or real smoking gun proof of past allegations. And in politics there are certainly many of those.
  
 I don't have the answers, I just sometimes wonder if there is more then meets the eye.It just seems like in all cases the bottom line is the same... GONE! Have we gotten rid of another bad apple here? Or is it something more? In politics it's sometimes all about those who can force feed the BS most effectively.Maybe he just couldn't hold the spoon correctly anymore.
 
A New York state lawmaker has been arrested for allegedly financially bribing Republican Party leaders to put him on the 2013 ballot as a contender for the new mayor. Five other politicians have also been charged in the scheme.   The FBI arrested Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens Tuesday morning for, as investigators claim, putting together a plot to bribe himself into position of New York City mayor.  

Senator Malcolm A. Smith currently serves as Vice Chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Chairman of the Independent Democratic Conference, Chair of the Senate Social Service Committee, Co-Chair of the Budget Sub-Committee on Super Storm Sandy recovery and Co-Chair of the Senate Bipartisan Task Force on Hurricane Sandy Relief. He also serves on the Codes, Education, Environmental Conservation, Housing, Construction, and Community Development, Judiciary, NYC Education Subcommittee, NYS Conference of Black Senators, NYS Black, Latino, Hispanic, and Asian Legislative Caucus and Transportation committees.

Prior to that he served as Secretary of the Democratic Conference, Ranking Member of the Banking Committee and Co-Chair of the High Speed Rail Committee. He is also the Past President Pro Tempore for the NYS Senate (2008-10).

Upon election to his leadership post, Senator Smith immediately took action to change the culture of the State Senate by making it more open, transparent, and bipartisan. On the first day in his new leadership role
 Smith began delivering on these goals by introducing and passing rules changes which fundamentally reformed the way the Senate operates and increased transparency to the public. He also established a bi-partisan Temporary Committee on Rules and Administration to examine and make recommendations for major changes in the operation and rules of the Senate.

He has attempted to promote trade partnerships with China and India and advocated for the expansion of high-speed rail and charter schools in the United States. His legislative achievements include securing funding for a health clinic in Hollis, a toxic waste cleanup project in Jamaica, and a three-bill package to combat child sexual abuse. He has also helped launch a series of forums statewide for prevention of foreclosure.

Smith created and chaired the Tri-Level Legislative Task Force. The task force ultimately released a report on increasing public confidence in law enforcement and the criminal justice system, and many of its recommendations have been passed by the state legislature. Smith was reelected to his State Senate seat without opposition in 2012.


The FBI arrested Sen. Malcolm Smith of Queens Tuesday morning for, as investigators claim, putting together a plot to bribe himself into position of New York City mayor. Even though Smith is registered as a Democrat, he tried to convince Republican lawmakers into buying him a spot on the GOP ballot. The FBI also arrested City Councilman Dan Halloran, who was charged for acting as a liaison in arranging the payoffs.

By asking an undercover FBI agent, who was posing as a wealthy real estate mogul, to pay off two of the Republican leaders, Smith got himself busted in the large-scale corruption scheme.Gerald L. Shargel, the attorney representing Smith, told the New York Times that his client is innocent.

Charges in the case include bribery, extortion, and wire and mail fraud. Also charged are: Bronx County Republican Party Chairman Joseph Savino; Queens County Republican Party Vice Chairman Vincent Tabone; Spring Valley Mayor Noramie Jasmin; and Spring Valley Deputy Mayor Joseph Desmaret.

Smith, Malcolm Et Al. Complaint

Sources


 http://rt.com/usa/mayor-election-nyc-rig-231/

 http://www.nysenate.gov/senator/malcolm-smith/bio

 http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57577458-504083/malcolm-smith-ny-state-senator-arrested-for-allegedly-trying-to-bribe-his-way-into-nyc-mayors-race/

Music Mesages - This is War

 THIS IS WAR by 30 Seconds to Mars 
 This song is one of my favorite music messages. 30 Seconds to Mars is one of the bands who shows the world a message, most pay it no attention. If you are familiar with the dark side of the entertainment industry you will see the VERY OBVIOUS symbolism thoughout this video. If you are not familiar with the dark truth as to how the industry is run do your homework. Tracing back to the beginning of propaganda you will find that all the glitz and glam is NOT what is really under the surface. Propaganda has ALWAYS been used to control and carry out an agenda. If you know your history you already know this, however, many people don't pay attention to the truth in plain sight. 

These entertainers are slaves to the industy, they sell their souls so to speak for fame and fortune, I can't count how many times celebrities have said straight out "I had to sell my soul to the devil" most have no clue how much truth is in that statement. Those who want to get out once they get in end up dead, drug addicted, broken and used. The history tells us great truth, but those who don't learn their history make way for it to be repeated, reliving pages that have come to pass can be avoided. Once you start to pay attention you will see this everywhere.EVERYTHING you see serves thier greed and political agenda THIS HAS BEEN THE CASE SINCE THE BEGINNING OF TIME



  
A warning to the people, the good and the evil This is war To the soldier, the civilian, the martyr, the victim This is war
 
It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie The moment to live and the moment to die The moment to fight, the moment to fight To fight, to fight, to fight
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world from the last to the first
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world, it's a brave new world
 
A warning to the prophet, the liar, the honest This is war Oh, to the leader, the pariah, the victim, the messiah This is war
 
It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie The moment to live and the moment to die The moment to fight, the moment to fight To fight, to fight, to fight
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world from the last to the first
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world, it's a brave new world It's a brave new world
 
I do believe in the light Raise your hands up to the sky The fight is done, the war is won Lift your hands toward the sun
 
Toward the sun (It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie) (The moment to live and the moment to die)  
Toward the sun (It's the moment of truth and the moment to lie) (The moment to live and the moment to die)  
Toward the sun (The moment to fight, the moment to fight) (To fight, to fight, to fight) The war is won
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world from the last to the first
 
To the right, to the left We will fight to the death To the edge of the earth It's a brave new world, it's a brave new world It's a brave new world
 
A brave new world The war is won The war is won A brave new world

Read more: 30 SECONDS TO MARS - THIS IS WAR LYRICS

Q&A What is the Geneva Convention

Geneva Convention Q & A by CherMyOpinion