The new drug “Charge”, does not show up on regular drug tests

In Tupelo Mississippi a teen has lost his life due to a new drug addiction. Not a street or club drug we all know about, but a household item, Ivory Wave bath salt. This new addiction has spread fairly fast in the surrounding communities in Mississippi. As local newspapers report: “Misuse of the bath salt has the same effects as meth, and is actually banned in Scotland following related deaths. Now, Lee County authorities have learned of local usage through domestic disturbances.”

They are calling the bath salts synthetic cocaine. The usage of this product is a fast-growing, highly addictive trend. Young people are saying they can’t get enough of the fake coke, and it's doing a lot of damage. Teens are reporting that they were using K-2 but have moved on to the fake coke “Charge” now.

[b]“Bath salts” or “Charge” or “Ivory,” the new “Miaow, Miaow”, [/b] they’re different names for different types of cocaine substitutes. People say it looks just like cocaine, but what it does to you is even worse.

A relative of an Ivory Wave bath salt addict who wants to remain anonymous describes watching her loved one going through mayhem. "Within thirty minutes after he got home he was what they call 'geeking out.' He was walking around the yard with a flashlight and looking under bushes. He got all the paperwork out of his truck. You could say something and he thought you were talking about him."

Ivory Wave bath salt is a cheap way to get high. Family members are reporting that their loved ones are staying awake for as long as 72 hours in complete pandemonium. This new addiction is landing teens and adults in the emergency rooms.

Lee County Sheriff, Jim Johnson says: "Hallucinations, seeing things that weren't there. We had one individual in the backseat of our car that was just absolutely paranoid because he felt like cars were trying to run over him while he was in the patrol car."

Some local stores have pulled the product out of their shelves after finding out about the local disturbances related to the misuse of the salt bath. For now, as it is legal and there is no penalty for selling the product some stores are keeping Ivory Wave bath salts it in stock, sadly cashing in on the addiction of others.

If your teen has gotten involved with this highly addictive substance or any other drug, please seek help before it’s too late. For immediate attention seek your nearest emergency room and when your child is stabilized seek the help of an [b]addiction treatment center specialized in teens. You may contact Inspirations Teen Rehab at anytime at for further assistance. Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com [/b]

Kentucky ranked Highest for Drug Related Deaths

We have all been told at one point or another that drugs are dangerous. That they have physical side effects, including death. Well Kentucky has been deemed the nation’s state with the highest amount of drug related deaths. The large amount of drug related deaths due to drug abuse comes from all age groups including a mother of four, a student and local teens. The drug deaths are not just from poor or uneducated communities it is state wide affecting all types of people.

Research shows that drug abuse and addiction in Kentucky is higher than any other state. One study reported that the residents of the state of Kentucky use more than double the nation’s average of Hydrocodone, which is usually a prescription drug. Teens report that family members are their source for supply of drugs. Kentucky was also ranked one of the top ten states with the highest nonmedical use of prescription pain relievers for ages twelve and older. According to the medical reports, the drugs most common in the drug related deaths were: methadone, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Valium, and Xanex. Local officials say that when the families try to deal with the problem in private, they end up becoming an enabler of the addiction. Providing funds, shelter, actually fuels the addiction cycle and does not make the user take accountability. Drug abuse and drug related deaths are such an issue because as the trend increases, the cost of patient treatment increases and is passed on to tax payers, courts, law enforcement, and jails.

If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug abuse or addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the prescription drug abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Teens, Marijuana use and depression

Many people assume that when teens use illegal drugs it is because they are addicted to the feeling it brings about or that the users want to use the drugs to reach a high. However new studies show that this is not always the case. Many teens are turning to drugs as an alternative to legal medications or legal therapies. This could explain why your teen is using drugs.

Some parents do not have open line of communication with their teens, they might think they do, but in reality for some reason, their teen is not telling them all. One sure sign is if every time you ask your teen how they are and they always respond with “I am fine or everything is fine,” this might indicate that they are not telling you something. Nobody is fine all the time, especially during the teenage years with tribulations of friends and young relationships. Maybe your teen tried to ask for help but in a way you did not understand, or maybe they do not know how to ask for help. Either way for about one third of teens that smoke marijuana, they smoke instead of going to therapy or taking medication to cope with issues in their lives. Their goal is not to get high but instead to find means to deal with certain aspects of their life.

In a recent study conducted, teens complained about using marijuana because they did not have access to the appropriate health care, and when they did, what was prescribed to them did not make them feel any better. They report that marijuana helps them relax and prescribed drugs such as Prozac, cause sleeping, mood and emotional problems. If and when prescribing medication to teens, site effects should be monitored closely. As not all drugs work the same for everyone, in fact it may cause more harm than good.

Your teen does not need to resource to illegal drugs to fit in society. Your teen needs help, support and counseling. Research indicates that the family is the most important aspect in preventing adolescent substance abuse. It is even greater than peer influence. In fact the positive role of family influence and the structure of the family, help to prevent poor peer choices in addition to poor choices or risky behaviors of substance abuse. Be an active part of your teens life and if your teen is depressed and using drugs seek professional help. It is never too late to prevent and/or stop an addiction. You as a parent of a family member can prevent a tragic outcome. Don't let your child become a statistic.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237
http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Is Your Teen Depressed and "Self Medicating" ?

Many Teens are depressed and report suffering from weeks of loss of motivation in daily activities. Instead of turning to counseling or seek doctor’s help for possibly treatment with prescribed depression medication, they are choosing to self-medicate. They are choosing anything from marijuana to prescription drugs as their self medication. At first abusing prescription drugs and marijuana might feel like they are helping, but the truth and research, points to the contrary.

The White House Office of National Drug Control Policy Report, shows that marijuana use worsens depression and leads to more serious mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, anxiety, and suicide. This report also shows that using drugs, specifically marijuana, to relieve the feelings of depression compound the problem, intensifying the issues. Teens that are depressed are twice as likely to use illegal drugs during their depression as teens that are not depressed. This trend leads to the teens becoming twice as likely as their peers to become dependent on marijuana and other illicit drugs. Using or smoking marijuana creates a problem for people suffering from depression because marijuana is associated with leading to suicidal thoughts, depression, and suicide. The concern with marijuana use has increased over the years due to the fact that the potency has also risen. Self medicating using illegal drugs such as marijuana or prescription drugs is not the answer for those suffering from depressions or feelings associated with depression. There are other options available. Do not let depression lead to other problems such as addiction or worse, death.

Drugs in general are highly addictive and addiction is a medical condition. A user is trying to achieve the same high that they felt on their first time of use, however, a user can never get the same high. It only takes one use of a drug to become addicted. It only takes one use to overdose or die. Like all medical conditions, treatment is necessary. If you or someone you know is struggling with drug abuse or addiction, call Inspirations Teen Rehab for help. Inspirations offers a one of a kind teen addiction treatment program that is very flexible to fit the needs of each teen including the opportunity to continue their high school academics without losing time or high school credits. The teen drug and alcohol rehab program has been featured on the Dr. Phill show, in a segment called Dangerous Fads in subject of “Huffing” one of teens’ new addiction.

It is never too late to prevent and/or stop an addiction. You as a parent of a family member can prevent a tragic outcome. Don't let your child become an statistic.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237 (1-888-75SOBER)
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 (1-888-38SOBER)

http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com

Parents Beware as This New Drug “Charge” Does Not Show up on Regular Drug Tests

In Tupelo Mississippi a teen has lost his life due to a new drug addiction. Not a street or club drug we all know about, but a household item, Ivory Wave bath salt. This new addiction has spread fairly fast in the surrounding communities in Mississippi. As local newspapers report: “Misuse of the bath salt has the same effects as meth, and is actually banned in Scotland following related deaths. Now, Lee County authorities have learned of local usage through domestic disturbances.”

They are calling the bath salts synthetic cocaine. The usage of this product is a fast-growing, highly addictive trend. Young people are saying they can’t get enough of the fake coke, and it's doing a lot of damage. Teens are reporting that they were using K-2 but have moved on to the fake coke “Charge” now.

“Bath salts” or “Charge” or “Ivory,” the new “Miaow, Miaow”, they’re different names for different types of cocaine substitutes. People say it looks just like cocaine, but what it does to you is even worse.

A relative of an Ivory Wave bath salt addict who wants to remain anonymous describes watching her loved one going through mayhem. "Within thirty minutes after he got home he was what they call 'geeking out.' He was walking around the yard with a flashlight and looking under bushes. He got all the paperwork out of his truck. You could say something and he thought you were talking about him."

Ivory Wave bath salt is a cheap way to get high. Family members are reporting that their loved ones are staying awake for as long as 72 hours in complete pandemonium. This new addiction is landing teens and adults in the emergency rooms.

Lee County Sheriff, Jim Johnson says: "Hallucinations, seeing things that weren't there. We had one individual in the backseat of our car that was just absolutely paranoid because he felt like cars were trying to run over him while he was in the patrol car."

Some local stores have pulled the product out of their shelves after finding out about the local disturbances related to the misuse of the salt bath. For now, as it is legal and there is no penalty for selling the product some stores are keeping Ivory Wave bath salts it in stock, sadly cashing in on the addiction of others.

If your teen has gotten involved with this highly addictive substance or any other drug, please seek help before it’s too late. For immediate attention seek your nearest emergency room and when your child is stabilized seek the help of an addiction treatment center specialized in teens. You may contact Inspirations Teen Rehab at anytime at for further assistance. Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com

http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Pleading Guilty when you are Not Guilty

This is something that happens in courtrooms across the U.S. every hour of the day. Pleading guilty when you're not guilty is all about weighing the options. Going to trial, whether you're guilty, innocent, or something in-between, is always a gamble and in many cases it is your life at stake.

I've always been a gambler of sorts – not in an addicted way, but more involving a lack of fear and a refusal to back down when I know I'm correct and the other side is worse than most could imagine. Of course I never claimed actual innocence in the case and always stated that I was not guilty as charged. The charges were serious overkill and that's on them: they lost.

My co-defendant, Rocky, did not exactly have the same opportunity for a trial as I did, but I have already told that story on this blog. Read The State of Florida Drugs Its Witnesses for part of the story. The rest of the story is stated in various articles here, but the shortened story is that Rocky had a $900,000 bond. When he had a hearing to reduce the bond, the judge gave him a $0 bond – as in no amount of money or property could secure his release. Rocky pled guilty to Conspiracy to Commit Racketeering (RICO) and agreed to testify against me to get a $20,000 bond and be released from the Orange County jail. Yes, I know that this is a violation of the Eighth Amendment of the United States Constitution, but trust me; it doesn't matter. Prosecutors screwed him in the end anyway. This often happens here.

It should matter, but those in power in this country do whatever the hell they want, disregarding law. This is, of course, something that I learned during the course of the case, before we ever made it to trial. I'm sure that it happens often in U.S. courts.

I will never forget the case of Lev Trakhtenberg. Lev sure wasn't guilty as charged, but similar to me he wasn't completely innocent. He may have been guilty of visa fraud (stating a lie on visa applications for dancers), but he sure wasn't a sex trafficker. If you know Lev at all you know that calling him a sex trafficker is laughable. He's a nice guy that wouldn't harm a soul. If you're interested in Lev's story, read The US System of Injustice.

Today Omar Khadr pleaded guilty to five charges. If you're interested in my background on the Khadr case, read The Show Trial of Omar Khadr. I later stated that his attorney had a serious health problem and the trial was postponed. Apparently he was talked into a plea deal in the interim.

I think that we could all understand why Omar Khadr took the deal, right? He weighed his options which were life in a U.S. Supermax prison vs. pleading and actually being free some day and serving the remainder of his eight year sentence in Canada within a year or so. What would you choose regardless of guilt or innocence or something in-between? Before you answer consider that he was being judged by a jury consisting of hardline military members in a War on Terror case.

Prosecutors intend to have the widow of the soldier that died testify at Khadr's sentencing. She will be pleading with the judge for a more severe sentence. I sure hope she isn't successful as prosecutors made a DEAL to get that plea and they should, by law, be required to stick to the deal. Prosecutors do lie and say or do anything to get a plea though, so only time will tell in this case.

I read an article somewhere early this morning – sorry that I cannot recall where – that stated Omar Khadr's head was down and as he answered the judge's questions relating to his so-called guilt in each of the counts. As he answered the questions he held his head in his hands. As with many victims of the US system of injustice, he had no choice except to lie or the plea would not have been accepted. I am sure that it is a lesson that he will never forget care of the land of the free.

Disgraced Former USAG Ashcroft in the News

Former U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft is back in the news as the U.S. Supreme Court considers his misuse and abuse of the law in terrorism cases while he was top law enforcement official in the country. The case that's under consideration is that of Abdullah Kidd, detained as a "material witness" in March of 2003, and subjected to the usual anti-Islam horror show tactics that became a mainstay for the Bush administration.

The facts are that Kidd didn't commit any crime and he wasn't charged with any crime, but was detained and held for two weeks and then released minus his passport. According to David G. Savage of the Tribune Washington Bureau, "Obama administration lawyers appealed on Ashcroft's behalf and asserted that it would "severely damage law enforcement" if the nation's top law enforcement official could be held liable for abusing his authority."

Well hell, if the nation's top law enforcement official isn't liable for abusing his power and authority then what cop will be? From all that I have witnessed in my life for the past 18 years, police and prosecutors have unlimited power. They can search without probable cause and without a warrant. They can arrest on a whim or a grudge or for no reason at all. Their pals at the prosecutor's office can then convict in court with false testimony from liar informants with something to gain.

Have I missed something here or is much of the rest of the US population on serious prescription drugs designed to promote complacency and acceptance?

Sorry, but I'm not into any prescription drugs and complacency has never been a strong point in my personality. I know I'm not alone, only because I have read other responses from posters on various forums that despise the system of abuse by those in power as much or more than I do.

So what happened to constitutional Obama? It seems that he was replaced by power Obama – the man that won through promises to the people, but now denies that any such promises were made. As someone that worked with the Obama campaign, I resent this more than most could imagine. Those that continue to support him would have many of you believe that no such promises existed and he's done his best.

I don't give a crap about many of his campaign promises – health care for all would have been nice, but I didn't expect it to ever happen in this country. I also didn't expect much of a turnaround with the economy, as after all, Bush spent 8 years ruining it. We couldn't realistically believe that President Obama could turn it all around in 2 years, could we now? What I did expect was immediate withdrawal from the occupied land known as Iraq – and do not try to tell me that withdrawal was recently accomplished as that was a load of bullshit. I also didn't expect "troop surges" in Afghanistan or declared wars on Pakistan, threats of war with the Iranians, and the invasion and occupation of more than half the nation-states of the Middle East.

I did expect the Guantanamo camps to be closed long ago – like by February of 2009.

Do I sound unhappy and even ticked-off? Well, there's nothing like dropping everything in your life to work for someone for no pay that ended-up being not much better than Bush. I really have no intention of even voting again and feel that if the pretty, though brainless, woman with the Tea Party wins (Sarah Palin), well, Americans will be getting exactly what they want, and deserve. Recent polls show that almost half of the responders (like 45%) actually miss Bush. It's hard to imagine that close to half the country is that stupid, but they were in 2000 and again in 2004, so I believe it. I've had enough arguments about it since 2000; that's for sure.

The only way I'd be involved in politics or vote again is if Alan Grayson decided to run for president in 2012. If he fails in getting re-elected as Congressman we could only hope… Grayson is outspoken and honest, and there's little doubt that he would keep his campaign promises. It's time that we ditched the no accountability crowd in this country for good.

Prescription Drugs Abused by Teens

According to Prescription Drug Abuse, prescription drugs are the second most commonly abused category of drugs, running a close second behind marijuana and well ahead of cocaine, heroin and methamphetamines. In 2000, about 43 percent of emergency room visits for drug overdoses occurred because of the misuse of prescription drugs. The top 6 most abused prescription drugs teens are been treated for at Inspirations Teen Rehab.

Hydrocodone
Hydrocodone belongs to the class of drugs called opioids, which are used for pain control in individuals who have moderate to severe pain. Opioids can be taken by mouth, crushed and snorted or injected. A number of deaths have been reported with injection of drugs intended for slow release in the body such as OxyContin, which is a derivative of hydrocodone. Opioids may cause constipation and drowsiness and can depress the rate of breathing and lead to death.

Codeine
Codeine is another opioid. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), codeine may cause respiratory depression and arrest, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation and coma. The Drug Enforcement Administration says codeine is the most widely used narcotic in medical treatment and is one of the starting materials used to develop hydrocodone. It is usually taken in pill form and can be found in combination with acetaminophen or aspirin or as a cough suppressant in liquid form.

Xanax
Xanax is used for anxiety disorders, panic disorders and anxiety caused by depression. Drinking alcohol with Xanax increases the effects of the alcohol. According to drugs.com, Xanax is habit forming and should never be prescribed for people with a history of abuse or addiction to prescription drugs. Side effects can include risk-taking behavior, depression, hyperactivity, light-headedness, seizures, muscle twitching, jaundice and less frequent urination.

Adderall
Adderall is another stimulant that gained national attention when the son of former Vice President Al Gore was arrested for possessing Adderall, marijuana, Xanax and Valium. Adderall is used to get a speedy high or "pull an all-nighter" to study.

Ritalin
Ritalin is a stimulant designed to increase alertness, attention and energy. It is commonly prescribed to children who have attention deficit disorder but is now a drug of choice among college students who are interested in staying up longer and studying harder. According to NIDA, the medication is usually taken orally, but people also dissolve it and inject the solution. However, it contains insoluble fillers that can block small blood vessels and cause tissue death.

Valium
Valium is the registered brand name of Diazepam. It is an anti-anxiety drug that changes the chemical balance in the brain and is often prescribed for alcohol withdrawal, shakiness, agitation and muscle pain. According to Prescription Drug Abuse, it is very common and easy to obtain. The body builds up a tolerance over just one month. Symptoms of abuse depend upon how long and at what level the person has been using the drug.

If you or someone you know is struggling with prescription drug abuse or addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the prescription drug abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away.

If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com%20/

Types of Adolescent Alcohol Rehab - Alcoholism Treatment For Teens

There are many types of alcohol addiction treatment for teens. Treatment types are determined by the adolescent's level of use and other mental health and medical issues.

Detoxification, short-term and long-term rehabilitation, intensive outpatient programs, 12-step programs and individual, family and group therapy are all forms of alcohol addiction treatment. Some types of treatment such as detoxification may last one week whereas other such as long-term, residential alcoholism treatment can last 30 days or longer.

Each type of teen alcohol addiction treatment has its own advantages. Including parents in the teen’s alcoholism treatment is critical to success, so a good alcohol rehab includes parents and family in their addiction therapy programs . Detoxification might be needed if the teen is heavily dependent on alcohol.

When choosing a teen alcohol treatment program, it's important to ensure that the program is specifically for teens due to their developmental needs. Also, if the teen has mental health issues, the facility should be able to treat them at the same time. Some adolescent teen rehabs provide along side addiction treatment an educational program which will help your child in keeping their school credits while away from home in treatment.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the alcohol abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from addiction is just a click or a phone call away.

If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/Teen-Binge-Drinking.asp
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/Teen-Alcoholism-Treatment.asp

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Binge Drinking is Killing our Youth. Every Two Hours a Teenager Dies from an Alcohol Related Accident

Since 2002 when a study by task force on drinking showed that "abusive drinking by college students is widespread, dangerous and disruptive", binge drinking has been on the rise in the US. By definition binge drinking is described as 5 or more drinks in a row for men and 4 or more drinks in a row for women. Binge drinking is best described as drinking enough to bring the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to .08 or more. This blood alcohol concentration generally occurs in excessive drinking within a two-hour time.

There are over 5000 underage teens who die from excessive drinking each year, and more than 1,700 college students, between the ages of 18 to 24, get injured due to direct result of alcohol abuse every year. Additionally, every two hours a teenager dies from an alcohol related accident.

All these statistics point to one fact. Our kids whether teenagers or young adults are dying from alcohol abuse in an alarming rate, and something needs to be done.

The first recommendation has always been education, and specifically educating our kids at an early age. Parents must talk to their kids about the dangers of alcohol abuse which can cause immediate medical concerns like vomiting, cold and clammy skin or medical emergencies like shallow breathing and unresponsiveness that could result in coma and death.

Our kids should know about the consequential effects of alcohol abuse that centers around sex and violence in colleges, and not mentioning a major cause of poor academic performance by college students.

Teens and young adults should know that alcohol is a legal psychoactive drug that can and will cause overdose and death. MRI studies of kids and young adults between the ages of 14 to 21 has shown permanent changes to both pre-frontal cortex (the decision making part of the brain) and the limbic system of the brain. Now, scientists are trying to find out if the changes are reversible.

At the end, the only hope that we have as a society, is to transfer the knowledge we have gained through the many deaths and injuries of our kids to the next generation of youth and hope they use that knowledge to save their life.

If you or someone you know is struggling with alcohol abuse or alcohol addiction and is in need of help, Inspirations Teen Rehab offers a flexible and affordable teen addiction treatment program. Our aim is to treat the whole person, and not just an isolated symptom. During the addiction treatment process we will work with the teen to identify the factors that may have contributed to the alcohol abuse and addiction – home, friends and medical history. We also believe that families have a vital role to play in the recovery process, and each addiction treatment program has a place for family participation, to educate them in the treatment process and to equip them for their role as supporters.

Reach out to us. Recovery from alcoholism is just a click or a phone call away. If the information you are looking for is not found here and you need immediate attention you may contact us:

Teen Addiction Help: 1-888-757-6237
http://www.inspirationsyouth.com/
http://www.inspirationsteenrehab.com/

Addiction Treatment for Young Adults and Adults : 1-888-387-6237 http://www.covecenterforrecovery.com/

Visitors from Strange Acronyms and My Life

I am curious as to who from the USAISC gives a crap about my former business. The acronym is for United States Army Information Systems Command and the party arrived at my website on the My Former Business page via a search for the complete name of my former business yesterday just after 3am (October 12, 2010). I must wonder if my Anonymous Whacko from Central Florida contacted pals at a government agency. All of those former MBI agents, our former sheriff Kevin Beary, and the former director of the MBI, William Lutz, have such pals; no doubt. They have called out the attack dogs before.

Well, I have had a mysterious life since some point in early 2001 when someone did something that began a chain of events that continues today. It wasn't me – believe it or not, I used to be this nice person, naïve to the dark side of the US criminal justice system, the wiretapping without warrant, and the sneak and peek searches that occur regularly in this country. But I was only naïve until the night that I arrived home from a two-day trip to South Florida after a helicopter hovered overhead from South Dade County and finally abandoned the mission close to the last northbound I-95 exit for West Palm Beach. That was in December of 2001, weeks after my arrest.

That night I arrived home to find that my home in East Orange County had experienced a break-in. The criminals had searched the house and did something in my computer. Papers had been moved and someone used the PC for some imaginable reason. I figured that they were searching for the client lists, but I really don't know what the focus of the search was as it has always been denied – by the MBI, the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor, the FBI, the DEA, and the DOJ. In the years that followed, I attempted Freedom of Information Act requests and the responses on a couple were vague. It may be time to mail off the FOIA requests again as they surely cannot claim the same investigation.

I would consider it possible that the USAISC visit is a result of my anti-war statements on this blog; however, the search term was the complete name of my former business so that wouldn't make much sense. Nothing about that case has ever made much sense though, so this is absolutely normal to me, I suppose. At least it is normal if you've suffered the interactions and experiences that I have in the last decade.

Am I worried? No, I'm just curious as a cat. Thanks to the agents of the State of Florida and their co-conspirators at the federal level, my life changed forever long ago. My Anonymous Whacko told me to "get a life before it was really too late" in a response to my post about him. Well let Vicky enlighten you: I do have a life that was changed forever thanks to you and yours.

I mean really – the case was over when the jury acquitted me on both counts on January 17, 2003, so imagine my dismay with your informants jumping through unimaginable hoops to attempt to enter my rented house with its address known to no one in relation to my name as late as 2008. Do you people ever go away? You do know I'm not scared, right?

Fear is an emotion that I overcame many years ago. All that you accomplish is to provoke me – that 2008 visit succeeded in provoking me to write the book. It doesn't really matter that few people have read it at this point; it isn't going away and I am laughing out loud.

Yes, they changed my life forever. I only wish that I could state how much they changed it, but I can't – any explanations must be saved for a jury in case it all happens again. The one fact that I will state is that I doubt that I would be alive long enough to make it to a jury trial anyway at this point. On that note any possible fear factor has been removed. Don't you get it?

Mine Rescue in Progress

Is there anyone in the world that's not watching the mine rescue in Chile? Wow. I do not know about you, but I was almost holding my breath as the first miner ascended and successfully reached the surface. I cannot imagine much worse than being buried far below the earth's surface for 69 days and nights. One rescued so far!

10/13/2010 @9pm EST Unbelievable! All 33 miners out of there!!!

The Dark Side of the US Criminal Justice System

A recent case in the news brought-on this post, but the topic is always on my mind and permeating my thoughts. Orlando Sentinel writers Mike Thomas and Anthony Colarossi have both written articles about the Malenne Joseph case:
Anatomy of a Botched Conviction: How was Innocent Haitian Woman Convicted?

Here's how Justice System let Innocent Woman sit in jail for 3 months

It may be my comments posted in the Sentinel under the second article that drew my latest anonymous whacko to this blog, though I never linked it anywhere. Anyone with the MBI, the State Attorney's Office, or the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor in Central Florida knows who I am. Oh well, perhaps I will now post a blog link there as the great majority commenting on the case are real people, not law enforcement or prosecutors hiding behind anonymity.

One thing that I must note here: Anthony Colarossi was the Sentinel reporter that covered my trial. He's a nice guy, though a bit naïve. However, in his articles about my trial back in January of 2003, he attributed various statements to me that I did not make. My evidence is the fact that I sat with my attorney on a bench in the hallway after the jury acquitted me on both counts and spoke to Mr. Colarossi when he approached us. My attorney and I knew that these statements attributed to me were not made by me.

When I questioned Mr. Colarossi on the phone later I was told that they ran it how his editor wanted it to be, but that I couldn't sue the Sentinel as no quotations were used. It was done in the format of "Gallas stated blah blah blah…" That former editor is Jane Healy, friend to the MBI in past. She is supposedly retired now, but does an occasional column for the Orlando Sentinel. Thanks a fucking lot to Jane Healy for twisting my words in favor of the MBI. I never wanted to sue the Sentinel, though I really resented the false attribution. And now to continue…

I must assume that Malenne Joseph has located an attorney to file suit against the inept detective and various state agencies that are responsible for her false arrest, false conviction, and incarceration. BUT the one party that should be sued cannot be sued: Assistant State Attorney Mexcye Roberts. Sure, Orlando P.D. officer Jose Varela, the inept detective, should also be sued, but really the prosecutor is the one that turned an inept cop's investigation into a conviction in the courtroom, and did so knowingly. Add one more conviction to that belt of false convictions

Mexcye – it is your job to convict regardless of facts or truth, right?

We must wonder how many time ASA Mexcye Roberts has accumulated notches on her proverbial conviction belt by tainting evidence and promoting false testimony. Surely no one believes that this is a first time for the up-and-coming prosecutor in Orange County's Ninth Judicial Circuit. And then there is the elected State Attorney in the Ninth – Lawson Lamar, known to many as "lawless Lamar". Who in the hell votes for this guy? He has been re-elected so many times that I must believe he's tampering with the votes. Don't just believe me – check with some Chinese hackers – the software in our voting machines is easily hacked.

There is a story behind that check with some Chinese hackers statement, but I won't go there now.

What should be done with prosecutors that violate defendants' right to a fair trial by committing gross acts of misconduct? And what are "gross acts of misconduct"? Examples of serious prosecutorial misconduct:

Failure to disclose evidence favorable to the defendant (Brady violation) – (significant in my case)

Discovery violations (various) – (significant in my case)

Selective prosecution – (obvious in my case)

Malicious prosecution – (clear and obvious when one listens to hearing and trial CDs)

Subornation of perjury – (committed repeatedly by lead prosecutor in my case with several state witnesses)

Jury tampering – (main case agent or prosecutor or both in my case? – hard to tell who specifically was guilty of jury tampering, but one or both were for sure)

Threatening state witnesses with retaliation if testimony doesn't satisfy prosecutors – (a common tactic in conspiracy cases and committed repeatedly in my case)

This is only a short list of the possibilities, but each and every one is a civil rights violation. The results could range from inconsequential to significantly important and resulting in a false conviction. In my case there was no conviction as we chose an intelligent jury AND I chose to testify in my defense. The jury had to hear the truth and I subjected myself to a full day of drilling by John Craft in order to tell it.

John Craft retired shortly after my trial and went into private practice in the Orlando area (actually in nearby Seminole County). Craft didn't last as a defense attorney, but I sure didn't expect him to. John Craft attempted to return to work as a prosecutor for the State of Florida with the Office of Statewide Prosecution (OSP); however, then State Attorney General Charlie Crist (now our Governor) refused Craft in a two page letter that was placed in Craft's permanent file. Craft was told that he would never work for the State of Florida again.

John Craft is now an Assistant U.S. Attorney (AUSA) in the Eastern District of Texas. He is not assigned very many cases – mainly minor drug crap – and is more of a paper pusher these days. Lucky him that he has any income and retirement at all.

A prosecutor really can't be sued for actions as a prosecutor. It is possible, but rare that such civil suits get anywhere. A USA Today article dated October 5, 2010 states that, "The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to consider another aspect of prosecutorial immunity: whether people who were wrongly convicted can take local prosecutors' offices to court."

The article is: Prosecuting Offices' Immunity Tested

If you read that USA Today article you'll understand that such a ruling wouldn't help a defendant like me that was acquitted by a jury. I have no recourse available to me whatsoever. Convicted defendant Malenne Joseph will certainly be able to file a civil suit against her persecutor if the ruling leans this direction, and if it could be applied retroactively – two big ifs.

In my opinion prosecutors guilty of such dark side justice should lose all possible retirement money, lose the job, be sanctioned by the state bar, and serve prison time equal to the time the defendant/victim served. But what of the prosecutor, such as John Craft, that was unsuccessful?

For a wealth of information on the topic of prosecutorial misconduct, go to Truth in Justice.

Miami Companions Indictment PDF

Good news - I have managed to embed the Miami Companions Indictment and the Fabiola Contreras Complaint on the new website. I couldn't embed either on this blog or on my old website. To the few (6) people that purchased my book Memoirs in order to receive a free copy of these PDFs - THANK YOU. To the rest of you - now you may read it and print it for free. Just go to my website via the updates link and click on the document of your choice (or both): UPDATES

Or here are links to the PDFs:

Miami Companions Indictment

Fabiola Contreras Complaint


There is now a Miami Companions Label on this blog on the right sidebar. The latest post (dated December 12th) has additional PDFs.

More on GPS Tracking Without Warrant

I still want to know which state and/or federal agency used illegal GPS tracking during my criminal case, and I want to know more than ever now. According to the information that I heard today the Metropolitan Bureau of Investigation (MBI) was far from alone. So who actually planted the device on my vehicle the day after my arrest after I bonded out of jail while I was shopping at Publix? Which agencies utilized information illegally obtained from the device?

So far it looks like the MBI was working with the DEA and the FBI. This isn't unusual for the agency – I've stated before that I felt the hard hands of the feds involved in my case with the helicopter chase on I-95 in South Florida and all of the strange occurrences I experienced before I made it to trial. I last discussed this in GPS Tracking by State and Federal Agencies.

I'm not willing to let it go. I have filed FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) demands with various federal agencies for information, but have gotten absolutely nowhere. Today I received some additional information and now know positively that the feds were involved. How is it possible that I receive lies in response to FOIA demands? What the hell kind of a country is this? Law requires that they respond honestly to FOIA requests. Was this a covert operation in which nothing was recorded on paper or are they all liars? What did they think I did to deserve such a covert op if this was the case? I have said it before and I'll say it again: This case had little to do with my escort business operating in any illegal manner or breaking any laws.

Within a few days after my arrest I made sure that I wasn't followed – trust me when I say that I know how – and went to see a very old friend; someone I had known for a decade. That friend had nothing whatsoever to do with the escort business. Really I went to see him to stop him from coming to my house as I didn't want him to have any problems because of my problems. When I returned two weeks later – again positive that I wasn't followed – there were several men there working in the yard, or so I thought at the time, and one stated that the people living there had moved out and asked me who I was. I left without answering.

From what I heard today, the men working in the yard were actually digging-up the yard and they were feds. My friend had returned to his native country after my first visit, so he wasn't there to deal with the feds, thank God. The feds had no warrant from what I was told, but my friends rented the house so they might have received permission to dig-up the yard from the homeowner. They tried to get in the house and met with resistance and then everyone moved out shortly thereafter.

Now this story sounds too familiar to me, probably because it is a part of the Memoirs account of various things done to me following my arrest. Yes, they actually sent fake cable company people to my house that stated a need to dig-up my backyard and the prosecutor in the case screamed allegations in a court hearing that I "had trash bags full of cash buried in my backyard". I still have the CD recording of the hearing, so let's not bother to pretend it never happened, okay? In that court hearing I actually offered to let them dig-up the backyard, providing that they agreed to leave it as they found it, and no warrant was necessary. My offer was scoffed at, most likely because they'd already been digging in the yard and knew their allegations were false when stated.

Of course there were no "trash bags full of cash" but they actually got my co-defendant, Rocky, to state this same allegation in his original deposition made to get out of the Orange County jail. Rocky went from $900K bond to "no bond" (as in not bondable for any amount of money) to a $20K bond once he did his 4 hour deposition in the Office of the Statewide Prosecutor (OSP).

So now I find out that they went digging in my friend's yard as well less than two weeks after my arrest. This is the case that will never die, at least not until I receive truthful answers from the State of Florida and the feds. I ain't goin' away until I'm dead. I do not give a flying fuck who is offended or what I'm threatened with, and you could take that to the bank.


Image: Satellite Over Earth – 06-24-07 © Pete Stopher / 2010 © iStockphoto.com