Drug Crimes / Drug Trafficking
1/2/2012
Ryan P. Rooth, Shareholder
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Are St Petersburg Drug Crime Lawyers Ready for Pure Hydrocodone?
Zohydro is a pure form of Hydrocodone and is in the processes of seeking FDA approval. Zohydro is said to be 10 times stronger than Vicodin. Should we be concerned that a new pain killer is entering the market? That depends, of course, on the intended use of the pain medication. As a patient, it can have a tremendous impact on patients who need stronger pain medication or who are showing signs of liver damage caused by acetaminophen in other pain medication. For the drug addict, this is the next best high.
Hydrocodone, morphine, heroin and oxycodone are opiates. They are highly addictive and addicts crush the pills for a quicker and more intense high. As a St. Petersburg drug crimes lawyers, I am all too familiar with this growing epidemic in the Tampa Bay area. As proof of this problem, just look at the two most abused medication in the U.S.: Oxycodone and Hydrocodone.
I predict the pure form of Hydrocodone will become the most sought after pain medication in the coming years if it is approved by the FDA. Addicts will go to almost any length to get a good high and the pill mills currently serving oxycodone will begin dispersing Zohydro as the patients complain the oxycodone no longer alleviates their pain.
As a criminal defense attorney, Tampa has seen its fair share of prescription pill problems. The booming market for pain medication in the U.S. continues to grow. According to a 2008 study by the International Narcotics Control Board, the U.S. consumes 99 percent of the world’s hydrocodone and 83 percent of its oxycodone. Why is the U.S consumption of prescription pain medication so high? Is it the need to block pain and create an intense feeling of well-being as opiates are designed for or are we as a society just unable to work and function through even minor discomfort? The answer depends upon the person.
The need to feel pain free is understandable but at what cost will a person sacrifice their own health? Consider the withdraw symptoms of opiates: cramps, diarrhea, muddled thinking, nausea and vomiting. Can the benefits of the medication for a short alleviation of the pain outweigh the withdraw symptoms when you have to stop using the medication? Besides from the withdraw symptoms, consider the addictiveness of the medications and the need for continued use to avoid the withdraw symptoms.
Zohydro is no less addictive than the current pain medications. The doctors are unable to control the current pain medication usage. How will doctors be able to control powerful medications like Zohydro? I don’t foresee any reduction in pain medication abuse from the introduction of the pure form of hydrocodone. As a St. Petersburg drug crimes lawyers I only see the next street drug. The potential for more young kids to find themselves imprisoned for drug trafficking prescription pills or worse yet accidentally overdosing resulting in death.
The pain medication abuse is an enormous problem. As a criminal drug attorney Tampa residents should be very concerned since the Tampa Bay Area has been the epicenter for the pill mills in Florida. The introduction of Zohydro could reverse any progress the state has made to counter this prescription pill epidemic in ourneighborhoods.
