News stories tagged with "prescription"

(12/29/11) "Spiraling out of control." And, "Almost an epidemic." That's how police, prosecutors, doctors, pharmacists and drug counselors describe the rise of prescription drug abuse in communities across the North Country.

While increased narcotic drug trafficking across the border with Canada is partly to blame, the relative ease of getting these drugs from doctor's offices and emergency rooms is also part of the problem. As Chris Knight reports, experts say solving the problem won't be simple, and the key is heightened vigilance of both law enforcement and the medical community. more

(05/20/05) State police arrested a Gouverneur doctor and her assistant Wednesday for allegedly providing prescriptions for drug addicts and dealers. Doctor Gail DeHart and her office manager Joan Kingdon operated a private practice from the doctor's home. Dr. DeHart had worked in the past at E.J. Noble Hospital and at a clinic in Edwards. The two face charges of criminal sale of a controlled substance. Officials say she billed the drugs to the taxpayer-funded Medicaid system. The state attorney general's office may press charges of fraud. David Sommerstein spoke with St. Lawrence County acting District Attorney Gary Miles. He says Dr. DeHart was prescribing large amounts of painkillers, like Oxycontin and morphine, to dozens of patients.

(12/14/04) Lewis County is joining a growing number of communities seeking to save money by buying prescription drugs from Canada. Lawmakers unanimously approved a plan to allow county employees to buy drugs from a pharmacy near Windsor, Ontario, called CanaRx. David Sommerstein spoke Bruce Krug, who chairs Lewis County's legislature. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says governments can't reimport drugs from Canada. But Krug says individuals can.

(08/01/02) The U.S. Senate has passed Senator Charles Schumer's legislation to make the access to prescription drugs easier. But the plan still hasn't been acted upon by the Republican-controlled House and faces opposition from the White House. David Sommerstein reports.