Community Chat

[Mindy D]

A doctor from Virginia was sentenced to 40 years in prison for illegally prescribing over half a million doses of opiates over two years. The scripts included fentanyl, oxycodone, diludid (also called hydromorphone and Exalgo)and others. Dr. Joel Smithers ran what prosecutors referred to as a pill mill near the border between Virginia and North Carolina. Included in the sentences is a 20 year sentence for the doctor’s prescribing of pills which caused the death of a West Virginia woman. There were over 800 total charges against Dr. Smithers. The practice opened in 2015. His office was raided in 2017. Patients came to the practice from Virginia, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia and Kentucky. The practice was portrayed by prosecutors as akin to a drug distribution network rather than a medical practice. It was an all cash office which did not accept insurance.

[millieshops]

By the time he opened his office, the dangers of those products were already in the press.  He CHOSE to create addicts.  Obviously just having a medical degree doesn't make a person a doctor.  Happy to see the court held him accountable for his choices.

[wishmoon]

I hope he has to serve every single day.

[Mindy D]

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@millieshops wrote:

By the time he opened his office, the dangers of those products were already in the press.  He CHOSE to create addicts.  Obviously just having a medical degree doesn't make a person a doctor.  Happy to see the court held him accountable for his choices.

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This guy never opened his office as a physician, with the intent of helping others. He’s not, and never was misguided. He is a criminal that intentionally used addicts as his ticket to a profit motivated, criminal enterprise. He is a conscienceless, callous, remorseless, sociopath that engaged in this behavior purely for his own gain. 

[IMW]

Let him rot for 40 years, he truly deserves it.

[Snowpuppy]

No one creates an addict. They do it to themselves.

[chrystaltree]

He was perating an illegal drug operation.  He wasn't functioning as physician.  This wasn't a case of a doctor over prescribing or relying on the faulty research that a drug company put out.  This guy was operating a criminal organization.  

[SilleeMee]

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@Snowpuppy wrote:

No one creates an addict. They do it to themselves.

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I have to agree with that...somewhat. I know some, if not many, addicts have no self-control when it comes to their addiction. Giving them the opportunity to break their addiction is often lacking. I know from personal experience how difficult and challenging that can be. 

[DrakesMomma]

My nephew died of an overdose almost a year ago.  I know his addiction was "created" by the abuse from his mom from the time he was a toddler until he left her house when he was 15.  Brains of addicts are wired differently than brain of non-addicts.

[chrystaltree]

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@Snowpuppy wrote:

No one creates an addict. They do it to themselves.

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       Bingo!   You are totally correct.  No physician, no drug peddler, no drug company creates addicts.  They profit off them but they do not create them.  No ever gets accidently addicted.  Even the people who started with legitimate prescriptions for pain make a CONSIOUS decision to abuse the medication.  The CHOOSE to take too much or take it too often or to continue taking it after the pain has subsided.  They do that because it makes them feel good and then they deceive the prescribing physicians....and then they get addicted.  But most never had a legitimate prescription, they sought doctors who operate pill mills.