McHenry County Blog

This photo was taken in Crystal Lake at a 2011 Drug Take-Back.

A press release from the Crystal Lake Police Department:

The Crystal Lake Police Department is partnering again with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for their National Prescription Drug Take-Back Event, April 28th.

On April 28 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Crystal Lake Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will give the public another opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

Bring your medications for disposal to the Crystal Lake Police Department parking lot at 100 W. Woodstock St.

The service is free and anonymous, no questions asked.

Last October, Americans turned in 377,080 pounds—188.5 tons—of prescription drugs at over 5,300 sites operated by the DEA and nearly 4,000 state and local law enforcement partners.

In its three previous Take Back events, DEA and its partners took in almost a million pounds—nearly 500 tons—of pills.

This initiative addresses a vital public safety and public health issue.

Medicines that languish in home cabinets are highly susceptible to diversion, misuse, and abuse.

Rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are alarmingly high, as are the number of accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Studies show that a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including from the home medicine cabinet.

In addition, Americans are now advised that their usual methods for disposing of unused medicines—flushing them down the toilet or throwing them in the trash—both pose potential safety and health hazards.

Four days after the first event, Congress passed the Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act of 2010, which amends the Controlled Substances Act to allow an “ultimate user” of controlled substance medications to dispose of them by delivering them to entities authorized by the Attorney General to accept them.

The Act also allows the Attorney General to authorize long term care facilities to dispose of their residents’ controlled substances in certain instances.

DEA is drafting regulations to implement the Act, a process that can take as long as 24 months. Until new regulations are in place, local law enforcement agencies like Crystal Lake Police and the DEA will continue to hold prescription drug take-back events every few months.

If you should have any questions regarding this event, please contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at (815) 356-3620.

= = = = =

Other departments taking part in the program at the same time:

• Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive—Algonquin
• Cary Police Department, 654 Village Hall Drive – Cary
• Fox River Grove & Algonquin Twp Road District, 3702 Hwy 14–Crystal Lake
• Huntley Police Department, 10911 Main Street–Huntley
• Johnsburg Police Department, 3611 N Chapel Hill Road—Johnsburg
• Lakewood Police Department, Village Hall, 2500 Lake Avenue—Lakewood
• Lake in the Hills Police Department, 1115 Crystal Lake Road–Lake in the Hills
• Marengo Police Department, 142 E Prairie Street–Marengo
• McHenry Police Department, 333 S. Green Street – McHenry
• Spring Grove Police Department, 7401 Meyer Road–Spring Grove
• Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Avenue—Woodstock

A press release from the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office:

DEA National Drug Take Back is Saturday, April 28 10 AM – 2 PM at 12 different local PD’s

The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and the McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages residents to take advantage of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) program “National Take-Back Initiative” on Saturday, April 28.

The one-day event is from 10am-2pm, at participating law enforcement sites. According to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, approximately 2,500 teens a day use prescription drugs to get high for the first time. Studies show a majority of abused prescription drugs are obtained from family and friends, including the home medicine cabinet.

Residents can bring prescription and over-the-counter, solid dose (tablets, capsules) medications in clear, sealed plastic bags for disposal. Items not accepted include liquids, intravenous (IV) bags/solutions, injectables, needles, lancets and sharps. Prescription labels should be removed (or personal information blocked out with a permanent marker) from plastic bottles before tossing into weekly curbside recycling containers. Twelve (12) participating drop-off sites include –

The DEA's Drug Take-Back logo.

• Algonquin Police Department, 2200 Harnish Drive—Algonquin
• Cary Police Department, 654 Village Hall Drive – Cary
• Crystal Lake Police Department, 100 W Woodstock Street–Crystal Lake
• Fox River Grove & Algonquin Twp Road District, 3702 Hwy 14–Crystal Lake
• Huntley Police Department, 10911 Main Street–Huntley
• Johnsburg Police Department, 3611 N Chapel Hill Road—Johnsburg
• Lakewood Police Department, Village Hall, 2500 Lake Avenue—Lakewood
• Lake in the Hills Police Department, 1115 Crystal Lake Road–Lake in the Hills
• Marengo Police Department, 142 E Prairie Street–Marengo
• McHenry Police Department, 333 S. Green Street – McHenry
• Spring Grove Police Department, 7401 Meyer Road–Spring Grove
• Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Avenue—Woodstock

To find collection sites near you, visit the DEA’s webpage http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_disposal/takeback/index.html. Check often as new sites will be added daily or contact your local police department.

Many Americans are accustomed to flushing their unused medicines down the toilet or throw them in the trash – both potential safety and health hazards.

U.S. Geological Survey studies have found traces of prescription drugs in water samples from 30 states which have been linked to ecological harm to fish and freshwater supplies.

Additional information is available from your participating local law enforcement agency, on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or by calling Kristy Hecke, MCDH’s Solid Waste Manager at 815-334-4585.

= = = = =
As I have mentioned before, the first person I heard suggest this idea was Dave Bachmann in his campaign for McHenry County Coroner.

A press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office from the Southern District of Ohio:

CHICAGO PHYSICIAN RECEIVES FOUR LIFE SENTENCES FOR ILLEGALLY DISTRIBUTING PILLS THAT LED TO DEATHS OF FOUR PEOPLE

He was largest physician dispenser of oxycodone in the U.S. from 2003-2005

CINCINNATI – Chicago physician Paul H. Volkman was sentenced in U.S. District Court to four consecutive terms of life imprisonment for illegally prescribing and dispensing pain pills outside the scope of a legitimate medical practice that resulted in the deaths of four people between 2003 and 2005.

Carter M. Stewart, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio; Robert L. Corso, Special Agent in Charge, Drug Enforcement Administration, Detroit Field Division; Edward J. Hanko, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Kyle W. Parker, Executive Director of the Ohio Board of Pharmacy; Richard A. Whitehouse, Executive Director, State Medical Board of Ohio and representatives of 12 other federal, state and local law enforcement agencies in Ohio, Kentucky, and Illinois who conducted the investigation announced the sentences imposed today by Senior U.S. District Judge Sandra Beckwith.

A jury convicted Volkman, 64, on May 10, 2011 of 18 crimes including four counts of illegal drug distribution that resulted in death. He received a life sentence on each of those counts. Sentences on 13 other counts range from 10 to 20 years and were ordered to be served concurrently. He was sentenced to an additional five years in prison to be served consecutively for possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime. Volkman was also ordered to forfeit $1.2 million.

The government presented 70 witnesses during the eight-week trial. Government witnesses included pharmacists who refused to fill prescriptions from Volkman, law enforcement agents and officers who investigated the deaths, Volkman’s employees, individuals who received pills from Volkman, medical experts and family members of the victims. Evidence presented during the trial showed that Volkman prescribed and dispensed millions of dosages of various drugs including diazepam, hydrocodone, oxycodone, alprazolam, and carisoprodol.

“Volkman was the physician at the center of a criminal scheme to distribute millions of controlled substances to hundreds of individuals in exchange for cash – a scheme that brought addiction, diversion, and death to southeastern Ohio and beyond,” Assistant U.S. Attorneys Tim Oakley and Adam Wright wrote in a sentencing memorandum filed with the court. “During the course of this conspiracy, Volkman was the top physician purchaser of oxycodone in the country.”

Volkman made weekly trips between Chicago and three locations in Portsmouth, Ohio and one location in Chillicothe, Ohio before task force investigators led by DEA Diversion investigators shut him down in 2006. Customers paid between $125 and $200 cash per visit. After a brief visit with him, they received a prescription for pain medicine. The “clinics” opened their own dispensary in 2003 after local pharmacies refused to honor prescriptions he wrote.

“Cooperative investigation by law enforcement, combined with the support of community groups and victims, are addressing the problem of addiction and illegal drug diversion,” U.S. Attorney Stewart said. “Such united efforts must continue.”

An idea I first heard in the fall of 2007 from Democratic Party candidate for County Coroner David Bachmann is taking over big time under the DEA’s leadership. I first noticed the DEA program in New Jersey in September, 2010..

Here is a press release detailing which McHeny County Police Departments will have boxes for pharmaceuticals you no longer need:

Medication Take-Back Event
Saturday, April 30 – 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

McHenry County Department of Health (MCDH) encourages residents to take advantage of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency’s (DEA) program “National Take-Back Initiative” on Saturday, April 30. The one-day event is from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, at participating law enforcement sites. A joint collaborative of public health and law enforcement departments, this initiative will provide a safe way for the public to dispose of their expired, unused and unwanted medication at no cost.

Residents can bring prescription and over-the-counter, solid dose (tablets, capsules) medications in clear, sealed plastic bags for disposal. Items not accepted include liquids, intravenous (IV) bags/solutions, injectables, needles, lancets and sharps.

Photo displays meds turned in under the OMC program on 11-14-2009. Left to right: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey - announcing the Operation Medicine Cabinet, Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, and Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywomen, 11 District, New Jersey Assembly

Prescription labels should be removed (or personal information blocked out with a permanent marker) from plastic bottles before tossing into weekly curbside recycling containers. Participating drop-off sites include:

• Algonquin Police Dept., 2200 Harnish Drive-Algonquin
• Crystal Lake Police Department, 100 W Woodstock St-Crystal Lake
• Harvard Police Department, 201 W. Front St.-Harvard
• Huntley Police Department, 10911 Main Street-Huntley
• Johnsburg Police Department, 3611 N. Chapel Hill Road-Johnsburg
• Lakewood Police Department, 2500 Lake Ave.-Lakewood
• Spring Grove Police Department, 7401 Meyer Road-Spring Grove
• Woodstock Police Department, 656 Lake Ave-Woodstock

According to the DEA, rates of prescription drug abuse in the U.S. are increasing at an alarming rate, as are accidental poisonings and overdoses due to these drugs.

Many Americans toss their unused medicines into the toilet or throw them in the trash – both potential safety and health hazards. U.S. Geological Survey studies have found traces of prescription drugs in water samples from 30 states which have been linked to ecological harm to fish and freshwater supplies.

To find collection sites near you, visit the DEA’s web page. Check often as new sites will be added daily.Additional information is available from your participating local law enforcement agency, on the MCDH webpage www.mcdh.info (Environmental Health) or by calling Kristy Hecke, MCDH’s Solid Waste Manager at 815-334-4585.

Yesterday I posted a story about the Huntley Police Department’s participating in in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s prescription drug collection program. Crystal Lake is, too. Maybe there are other local police departments who have signed on as drop off points that I don’t know about.

In the Huntley article, I noted that the first place I heard of the idea was from David Bachmann in his first email to McHenry Count Blog on his coroner’s candidacy.

Then, the idea popped up in New Jersey under the sponsorship of the Drug Enforcement Administration.

 

This is the kind of publicity Jack Franks missed out on: Photo displays meds turned in under the OMC program on 11-14-2009. L to R: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey- announcing the Operation Medicine Cabinet, Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, and Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywomen, 11 District, New Jersey Assembly

What I find most interesting is that when Bachmann took his idea to Democratic State Rep. Jack Franks, Franks did nothing with it.

Considering his constant need to have publicity, it is rather amazing to me that Franks did not jump on this idea.

Instead, he told Bachmann to draft a bill.  As a former legislator of sixteen years, may I suggest that is a disingenuous kiss off.   The minimum Franks should have done was to point Bachmann to the Legislative Reference Bureau, which drafts bills for legislators.

Don’t believe me?

Here’s the email to Bachmann:

Friday, June 27, 2008, 1:44 PM

Dear Mr. Bachmann

I have researched your legislation proposal about requiring police officers to dispose of unused prescription drugs when they respond to a death call.

State Rep. Franks urges you to draft a bill for consideration on this important issue. No legislator has submitted a bill like this in the 95th General Assembly. If you have any further questions, please call me.

Thank you,
Jake Smallhorn
Legislative Assistant
Jack Franks

And, here is the final contact from Franks’ office to Bachmann on the subject:

To: “david bachmann”
Date: Monday, June 30, 2008, 1:50 PM

Jack let me know today that he would like to see a draft of a bill so I sent off a request today to have the legislation drafted. Our office should be taking care of it. Sorry if there was any confusion.

Thanks,
Jake

Under yesterday’s article Bachmann has left the following comments.

09/15/2010 at 3:52 pm (Edit)

Thank you.

Today’s decision by many McHenry County Law Enforcement Entities to help safely ‘Dispose’ of these dangerous medications, is an outstanding moment for all ‘In Home’ health care workers, and, for our school system.

I’ve always believed that the ‘Hospice’ workers needed protection from any possible claims of wrong doing as it may relate to narcotic pain medication disposal and the like.

I’ve strongly believed that our children should not have clear access to these medications which are visibly showing up within the walls of our schools.

I am a chronic pain suffer myself due to many, many surgeries. Although I carefully and faithfully remain under the care of professional ‘Pain Management’ medical teams, I constantly tell my children that narcotic pain medications have no place outside the direct supervision of licensed physicians who specialize in ‘Pain Management’ Medical Care.

To be sure, when properly utilized, these medications are a blessing and help those who might otherwise be bedridden for life, find comfort from debilitating pain. I am such a blessed person.

What I have never spoken about prior to this moment, is that I had in fact, taken the Video that can be found on YouTube, that was made during my campaign, and sent it to Federal Authorities.

I also met an “Author” named Alan Jacobson who has been most helpful in my own quest to publish my first book. Alan has direct connections to the DEA and FBI powers that be. You can see why by visiting Alan’s web site.

From there, things grew and grew. First in Newark, NJ, then on and on.
Now, finally home to McHenry County.

The most interesting part of my journey regarding this important program, was that I literally dropped it upon the lap of Democratic State Representative Jack Franks. My emails to Jack Franks office affirm my assertion.

Additionally, I have email correspondence from Jack Franks office stating that NEVER BEFORE, is Illinois Legislative history, has ANYBODY introduced such a bill before.

I thought from that email, Jack would have taken the many, many hours of time I gave to his office explaining the details of such a program.

Sadly, it never happened.

This program well could have become Illinois Law some time ago and McHenry County could have been the first in the entire nation to adopt such a “Bill” and implement such a vital program.

I’ve learned many things through this political process.

First, is that I do not like politics.

When I depended upon a State Representative to help me, I got nowhere.

I sought the help of people I’d had never met before who had no Political advantage in helping me, and we see what has come full circle.

Thank you to all in McHenry County Law Enforcement who are working hard and putting in extra duty to protect our kids and our health care workers!

“Sometimes,” just “Sometimes,” a guy with a big mouth wins. Today is a victory for “We, The People!”

Later, he added the following comments about Marlene Lantz, the Republican woman who beat him in the fall election:

09/15/2010 at 5:24 pm (Edit)

Quickly, then I will be still………

I want to thank McHenry County Coroner Marlene Lantz. I know Coroner Lantz has been dedicated to this cause and I’m certain she has been working hard with the home health care workers she and her staff work so closely with each and everyday.

It takes a team to get things done. Sometimes ‘teams’ stand on opposite sides of the field. We all seek “Victory!”

Thanks Coroner Lantz for your dedication and service on this “Mission.”

Earlier this afternoon, I posted an article announcing the Huntley Police Department’s providing a drop off point for the DEA’s “National Take-Back Day”.

Now, a press release has been received from the Crystal Lake Police Department giving details for its collection. It has a bit more detail, so I shall share it with you.

On September 25, 2010, the Crystal Lake Police Department in conjunction with Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will coordinate a one-day collaborative effort to remove potentially dangerous controlled substances from our nation’s homes.  The “National Take-Back” initiative will provide a unified opportunity for the public to surrender pharmaceutical controlled substances and other medications to law enforcement officers for destruction.

The 2008 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) estimates there are 6.2 million current non-medical users of psychotherapeutic drugs in the United States.

The NSDUH survey further indicates there are more Americans abusing psychotherapeutics than the number of cocaine, heroin, and hallucinogen abusers combined.

Expired, unused, or unwanted controlled substances in our homes are a potential source of supply that fuel this abuse and are an unacceptable risk to public health and safety.

Also most people tend to dispose of these medications by discarding them into the trash or down the drain.

Either of these options provides a contamination of the waterways and wastewater treatment plants. This provides a direct impact on the environment, but also directly affects the ability for the City to provide suitable water.

Collection activities are planned from 10:00 am through 2:00 pm on September 25, 2010 at the Crystal Lake Police Department, 100 W. Woodstock Street, Crystal Lake. Residents are encouraged to bring all unused or expired medications during this time. Controlled, non-controlled, and over the counter substances may be collected.

Liquid medications will not be accepted. Intravenous solutions, injectables and/or syringes will not be accepted due to potential hazard posed by blood borne pathogens. Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

This program is anonymous and all efforts will be made to protect the anonymity of individuals disposing of medications. No questions or requests for identification will be made.

Participants may dispose of medication in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into the disposal box. If an original container is submitted, the individual(s) will be encouraged to remove any identifying information from the prescription label.

If you should have any questions regarding this event, please contact the Crystal Lake Police Department at (815) 356-3620.

David Bachmann

The first I heard of some public entity wanting to collect unused drugs was in David Bachmann’s unsuccessful campaign for McHenry County Coroner.

That was on October 21, 2007, when Bachmann was introducing what he wanted to do, if elected to replace Republican incumbent Marlene Lantz.

Then, this January, I saw that the Drug Enforcement Administration was doing essentially what Bachmann proposed, but on a broader scale, and getting a lot of publicity for its efforts.

Now Grafton Township Supervisor Linda Moore brings to my attention the Huntley Police Department’s Drug Take Back Program on Saturday, September 25, 2010.

It’s a good idea not to have drugs being flushed down the toilet into Downstream water sources.

So, mark the calendar if you are in the Huntley, western Lake in the Hills area.

And drop your unneeded drugs off at the Huntley Police Department 10-2.

One of the issues that Dave Bachmann, unsuccessful 2008 Democratic Party candidate for McHenry County Coroner, proposed in his October 31, 2007, candidacy announcement was initiation of a prescription drug collection from those who died at home under hospice care.

I’m pretty sure that incumbent Republican Marlene Lantz included it in her platform, but haven’t heard anything about it since the election.

Now I read in a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration press release that the idea has taken hold in New Jersey. The first two paragraphs of the release follow:

Thousands of New Jersey Residents Prescribe to Operation Medicine Cabinet
Over 9,000 Pounds of Prescription and Over-the-Counter Medicine Collected During First in the Nation Day of Disposal

NOV 18 — (Newark) – Gerard P. McAleer, the Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) New Jersey Division and Angelo M. Valente, the Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ), announced today that over 9,000 pounds of medicine, with a street value of over $35 million, was collected during Operation Medicine Cabinet New Jersey, the first in the nation statewide day of disposal of unused, unwanted, and expired medicine.

This statewide effort is being spearheaded by the DEA New Jersey Division, the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General (OAG), and the PDFNJ, with partnership and support by many other local and statewide prevention and enforcement organizations.

Photo displays meds turned in under the OMC program on 11-14-2009. L to R: Gerard P. McAleer, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New Jersey- announcing the Operation Medicine Cabinet, Angelo Valente, Executive Director, Partnership for Drug Free New Jersey, and Mary Pat Angelini, Assemblywomen, 11 District, New Jersey Assembly

Over 440 local police departments and sheriff departments, in all of New Jersey’s 21 counties, hosted collection sites, where New Jersey residents came out in force to support Operation Medicine Cabinet and rid their homes of unused, unwanted, and expired medicines on November 14th, clearing their homes of over 9,000 pounds of prescription and over-the- counter medicine.

Perhaps this good example will be followed in Illinois. Lots of publicity potential for anyone who pulls it off.