The State of Ohio Seizes the Day: Sends Pill Mills Packing- Part 2

Health officials say the illegal distribution of painkillers leads to hundreds of overdose deaths in Ohio each year.

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) - Last Monday I wrote an article on the "pill mill" crisis in Scioto County, Ohio and how a committed group of very determined people were taking their community back in an effort to save their kids' lives. On Tuesday, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and local law enforcement took action against four doctors and a pharmacy in Scioto County. The DEA served an Immediate Suspension Order (ISO) against physicians Margy Temponeras, John Temponeras, Mark Fantazuzzi, and Michael Dawes. An ISO was also served on Prime Pharmacy in Portsmouth.

In a press release, the DEA called Dr. Margy Temponeras one of the largest dispensers of controlled substances in the United States. This statement bears an editorial note -- which is -- Temponeras credited with being one of the biggest drug pushers in the United States -- not just Ohio.

They further stated that Drs. Fantazuzzi and Dawes, both have worked at one time at Southern Ohio Complete Pain Management in Portsmouth, Ohio, and are responsible for the prescribing OxyContin -- in the hundreds of thousands and anti-anxiety medications over the past two years.

The DEA said the ISO for Prime Pharmacy prevents employees from continuing to possess, order, or dispense controlled substances, such as hydrocodone and oxycodone (OxyContin).

The Immediate Suspension Orders are based on a preliminary finding by DEA that the continued registration of the doctors and pharmacy constitutes an imminent danger to public health and safety, according to the press release.

“Nationally, prescription drug abuse is one of our largest substance abuse problems, and in southern Ohio abuse of pharmaceuticals has reached almost epidemic proportions," said DEA Special Agent in Charge, Robert Corso. "Doctors that prescribe dangerous drugs, for reasons not driven by medical need, are a danger to the community. The actions taken today (Tuesday) illustrate that DEA is committed to work with our law enforcement partners and attack this problem head on.”

In addition, the DEA served notice of an Order to Show Cause on Physicians Pharmacy at 727 Second Street in Piketon, Ohio.

Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine issued the following statement on the recent DEA actions on Tuesday:

"Today's action reinforces our commitment to putting an end to the prescription drug abuse problem in Ohio. We are fighting the battle on all fronts, with our BCI agents working in partnership with other state agencies, local law enforcement, and federal authorities. We are serious about this fight, and we aren't going to relent."

Gov. John Kasich signed into law about 2 p.m. today House Bill 93, which will crack down on drugs-on-demand pain management clinics, known as "pill mills" by their critics.

The new law will require the State Board of Pharmacy to license pain clinics as distributors of dangerous drugs. It also limits how many pills a doctor can dispense at a clinic and creates a statewide system for collecting unused narcotics.

Health officials say the illegal distribution of painkillers leads to hundreds of overdose deaths in Ohio each year.

Kasich further issued a statement which in part reads “Pill mills" have fueled the prescription drug abuse that has devastated families and communities across the state. House Bill 93 makes it clear that Ohio will not tolerate unethical doctors and their crooked operations, and we’ll do everything in our power to shut them down. Today, we take a crucial step in our coordinated effort toward ridding Ohio of this demoralizing epidemic and restoring some hope in these shattered communities.”

State Reps. Terry Johnson and David Burke, who co-sponsored the bill, as well as Kasich credited the local group SOLACE - "Surviving Our Loss and Continuing Everyday" with the inspiration for the bill.

The motto of the State of Ohio is -- "With God All Things Are Possible." Hopefully 49 other states will adopt Ohio's motto.

LP - For all those times we stood by each other - For all the joy you brought to my life - For every dream you made come true - For all the love I found in you, I am forever thankful -- and celebrate with a hot cocoa!

Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's - Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim - who pleaded guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 8-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.

Marianne Skolek
National Activist for Victims of OxyContin and
Purdue Pharma - a criminally convicted pharmaceutical company
Staff Correspondent, Salem-News.com