Today in the world of drugs and addiction, prescription drug addiction is the nation’s number one drug problem. Just a few short years ago Missouri’s main concern was methamphetamine addiction and clandestine meth labs, and still is to a degree, but addiction is reaching new heights and coming right out of the doctor’s office, in more ways than one.
Even health professionals are not immune, those whom we turn to for help and often with an addiction problem fall victim to the toxic effects of drugs. Missouri drug rehabs are full of addicts dependent on prescription given after some sort of accident or surgery more often than.
Today an Independence, Missouri doctor pled guilty to llegally distributing prescription drugs, defrauding health insurance providers and money laundering. This doctor, trained to help those in pain, inflicted his own pain on many. Without a doubt all those years of med school and the Hippocratic Oath never crossed his mind, not to mention his career. Three others had their plea agreements unsealed today in federal court.
The doctor agreed to relinquish over 1 million dollars of his ill gotten gains and along with his cohorts, was charged with conspiracy and money laundering. Not only were these three guilty of creating more addicts or at least to the addiction problem of others, the committed healthcare fraud as well.
According to the article, the doctor began frequenting strip clubs in 2005, supplying prescriptions to dancers, bouncers and bartenders “without a medical examination or demonstration of a medical need.” He was paid $50 for each prescription. In 2006 he met Kevin Cummings and began writing prescriptions to him and in the names of others. Cummings then filled the prescriptions or had others fill them. He then arranged to distribute them. Baker was paid back with pills or paid $100 for each prescription, according to the plea agreement.
As a result of the scheme, various health care programs paid out more than $214,000 for fraudulent claims, according to information provided by federal prosecutors. Sold illegally on the street, the drugs had an estimated value of just under $1 million, according to court documents.
These incidents come in long line of federal investigations concerning prescription drug addiction and fraud, particularly Medicaid, where just last year a US Senate investigative committee looked into billons of dollars being illegally used in Florida with foster children. At this time, admissions to treament programs are highest with those seeking prescription drug addiction treatment and quite often put on even more drugs do the the misdiagnosis given during treatment.
These stories are true, and real, making it all the more evident that those whom you have entrusted with your life may not have your best interest at heart. Please be aware, drugs have many ways, physically and mentally, and just because they are prescribed by a doctor does not mean they are safe. Even for a doctor.
