The Canyon

Anna Nicole Smith’s two doctors and her lawyer boyfriend—Dr. Sandeep Kapoor, Dr. Khristine Eroshevich and Howard K. Stern—are pleading not guilty to drug conspiracy charges. Pending the outcome of the trial, the judge will not suspend the doctors’ medical licenses, according to the Associated Press.

Though the trio are not charged with manslaughter, homicide or even being the cause of her death, they are charged with conspiring together to illegally provide Anna Nicole with copious amounts of prescription pills including a combination of sedatives and opiates. After a preliminary hearing that outlined the many different drugs given to Anna Nicole, how they were prescribed and dispensed to her, and why (a process that took three weeks), charges were formally filed against all Kapoor, Eroshevich, and Stern.

The former Playboy model’s addiction to these pills eventually led to her death in February 2007 at a hotel in Florida, just days after her son, Daniel, died of an overdose as well. Her autopsy revealed that she died due to taking a combination of at least nine medications.

So why won’t the doctors lose their licenses considering the severity of the charges against them?

Says Linda Deutsch at Associated Press, “Superior Court Judge David Wesley rejected an effort by the attorney general’s office to lift the medical licenses, saying a yearslong delay in seeking that action undermines the claim of an imminent danger to the public if the doctors continue to practice.”

The trial itself may not happen until the summer of 2010, but in the meantime, all sides will likely file a number of motions to resolve certain issues. During the trial, the testimonies of those who were around Anna Nicole in the Bahamas during her last days will be heard.

The defense of all three alleged “co-conspirators” is that all of them had worked together to attempt to save Anna Nicole from her self-destructive behavior during her last years. All three claim that they were not aware that she was suffering from drug addiction.

The prosecution argues that drug addiction could not have been more obvious, especially to trained medical professionals, and that the three were caught up in riding her coat tails in the celebrity world.

If they are convicted, all three of the defendants could spend five years in prison.

The Warning Signs of Drug Addiction

Because the three charged with drug conspiracy charges in the wake of Anna Nicole’s death claim they had no idea that Anna Nicole was a drug addict, it seems that it is less important to cast blame after an overdose than it is to recognize the issue of drug addiction while you are still alive and able to fight it.

If you think that your prescription drug use has evolved into abuse or even addiction or if you believe that your loved one is a prescription drug addict, don’t wait to get help. Talk to a substance abuse treatment counselor as well as your doctor and determine whether or not a prescription drug rehab is the right move for you.

Oxycodone is a commonly prescribed prescription painkiller that is one of the predominant drugs of addiction across the country. Often prescribed for moderate to chronic pain, oxycodone (otherwise known as oxy, OC, and hillbilly heroin among other things) is highly addictive. Just a short period of regular use can result in an oxycodone addiction that will require treatment at a prescription drug rehab.

Here are a few things you should know about oxycodone.

How is Oxycodone Administered?

Oxycodone is should only be taken orally and as directed. If you are prescribed a solid form of this medication, you should not break, crush or alter the pills in any way, especially extended release tablets. Taking too much of this drug may cause serious respiratory depression or other overdose related illnesses. Never take this medication for other conditions unless it is prescribed to you, and do not share your prescription with anyone else for any reason.

What Drug Interactions Should I Avoid When Taking Oxycodone?

Your oxycodone prescription may cause serious medical problems if taken with certain drugs. If your doctor is aware of all your other prescriptions and medications you take regularly, you will be monitored for any potentially harmful reactions. If you have ever had an allergic reaction to opioids or other painkillers, you should tell your physician before using oxycodone as it is an opioid-based medication. Oxycodone is known to cause drowsiness; this side effect may become more pronounced if taken with antihistamines, sedatives, psychiatric medicine or anti-anxiety medication. Notify your doctor if you are taking medicine for lowering your blood pressure or other painkillers. Some lab test results may be affected by oxycodone, so make sure that lab personnel are aware that you are taking this drug before the tests are administered.

What are the Side Effects of Oxycodone?

Your physician or pharmacist may give you a list of expected side effects that accompany oxycodone use. The majority of patients will experience vomiting, nausea, mild itching, drowsiness, lightheadedness, constipation, dry mouth, weakness or loss of appetite. Tell your doctor if your experience with these side effects do not diminish over time or if they become too much for you to handle.

What Else Should I Know When Taking Oxycodone?

Naltrexone should not be taken with oxycodone. Patients who have a history of breathing problems may find that oxycodone increases the inability to breathe well. Tell your healthcare professional if you have ever had a brain disorder, adrenal gland issues, difficulty urinating, or a history of alcohol or drug abuse. If you are taking oxycodone on a dosing schedule, do not skip your dose or double up on your medication should you inadvertently miss a dose. Geriatric patients may have side effects that are more severe in intensity. This drug is not recommended in the last trimester of pregnancy or for women who are breastfeeding. Consult your doctor if you become pregnant while using oxycodone. If while taking oxycodone you have any concerns or questions, speak to your pharmacist or physician.

Oxycodone Addiction Treatment

If you or someone you love is addicted to oxycodone, don’t wait to get help and do not attempt to stop taking the drug on your own. Contact The Canyon today for more information about our oxycodone detox and oxycodone addiction treatment program.

NOTE: If you are concerned that you or someone you are with is experiencing an OxyContin overdose, call 911 immediately.

What is an OxyContin Overdose?

OxyContin overdose occurs when you take too much of OxyContin in a short period or combine OxyContin with other drugs of addiction. If you have difficulty breathing, feel a sudden overwhelming and extreme fatigue, and think that you have overdoses on OxyContin, call 911 immediately.

If you are with someone who appears to have passed out and can’t be woken up, they have a slow heartbeat and exhibit shallow breathing as well as a bluish tint to their nails and lips and you know that they took OxyContin recently, they may be experiencing an OxyContin overdose and you should call 911.

What Do I Do in the Event of an OxyContin Overdose?

If someone you are with has been taking OxyContin and shows signs of an overdose, call 911 as soon as possible. When your call is answered, stay calm and be prepared to furnish the following information if you can:

* The name, age and weight of the person
* How the victim appears to you and symptoms they are exhibiting
* The strength and the amount of OxyContin that was taken
* When and how it was ingested
* If the OxyContin was prescribed for the victim

In the event that you suspect an OxyContin overdose but are not convinced it is an emergency, contact the National Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. You should be ready to supply the operator the same information as you would a 911 agent. Poison Control is available 24 hours a day, 7days a week and is completely confidential.

How is an OxyContin Overdose Treated?

Most deaths occur during an OxyContin overdose because the patient stops breathing. When treating an OxyContin overdose, the main objective will be to open airways to allow the patient to breathe either on their own or with assistance. A medication such as naloxone is commonly administered to prevent respiratory depression. To prevent and manage circulatory shock and pulmonary edema resulting from an OxyContin overdose, it may be necessary to provide oxygen and vasopressors. If cardiac arrest or arrhythmias become apparent, cardiac massage or defibrillation will be required.

How Do I Avoid OxyContin Overdose?

The best way to avoid it is to choose never to take the drug unless prescribed by a doctor and to undergo treatment for OxyContin addiction as soon as you recognize the problem.

Who Needs OxyContin Detox and Treatment?

While anyone can become addicted to OxyContin, some people may be more susceptible to addiction, especially those who have had a drug abuse or addiction problem in the past or those with a genetic predisposition for addiction. Even if you have these issues, you may still be prescribed OxyContin, though your doctor should monitor you closely.

 If you find that you are preoccupied with taking the drug, take a higher dose than prescribed, go “doctor shopping” to get multiple prescriptions for OxyContin or other opioid-based prescription drugs or increase your dosing schedule without authorization from your doctor, then the person needing OxyContin detox and treatment is you. Call an OxyContin rehab like The Canyon today to break your addiction and avoid overdose.