Methadone News

“For a person that would lack opiate tolerance or not be involved in a methadone program, the methadone level would be significant”

A judge will determine next week whether an Oshkosh man will stand trial in connection to the January death of a 21-year-old woman who died at a Ceape Avenue residence. via Oshkosh Northwestern

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“I didn't know my son got a hold of the medicine.”

The father of a 2-year-old who died in March has been charged after tests revealed the boy died from an overdose of a dangerous drug his father was prescribed. via Newark Advocate

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A new study indicates therapists can use a virtual reality (VR) program to help their patients deal with addiction problems. The use of these devices has been increasing over the years.

VR cue reactivity programs have been successfully tested for feasibility in nicotine and cocaine dependents for the field of substance abuse.

Seeking to expand VR applications in alcohol cue research, a novel VR alcohol cue reactivity assessment system incorporating visual, auditory, and olfactory stimuli was developed and tested, according to the Addictive Behaviors Journal. In a controlled trial, 40 non-treatment-seeking drinkers with alcohol use disorders were exposed to VR alcohol cue environments. Subjective craving, attention to alcohol cues, and level of presence (realism of experience) in VR were assessed across the environments.

It was found that the subjective craving for alcohol increased across the VR alcohol-related cue environments versus VR neutral cue environments. Participants reported high levels of presence in VR, indicating that the environments were perceived as realistic and compelling. These initial findings support the use of VR based cue reactivity environments for use in alcohol cue-based treatment and research.

With the environment behind virtual reality becoming more and more viable, this may present a very effective way for counselors to help clients build up their coping skills and tolerance to addiction problems.

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BY STAFF REPORTER: Isabel Teotonio

A Toronto man was charged with uttering death threats yesterday after shouting at a doctor who was testifying at an inquest into his brother’s death at the Don Jail.

The eruption occurred when Dr. Todd Overholt was testifying about methadone withdrawal on the opening day of an inquest into the death of Keigo White, who choked himself while incarcerated in October 2006.

The 40-year-old former heroin addict reportedly told jail guards he would kill himself if he wasn’t given methadone. Later that night, he was found with bedsheets tied around his neck and no pulse. He was revived but died in hospital nearly three months later.

Overholt, an expert witness, told the five-person jury that although the symptoms associated with methadone withdrawal can make some people feel very sick, the medical risks are not high. In other words, he said, symptoms such as extreme fear, inability to sleep and deep pain can become so intense some may think they’re going to die, but in reality, giving up cold turkey will not actually result in death.

During Overholt’s testimony, White’s brother Michael yelled out, “That’s a lie,” before storming out of the court. As his girlfriend, Christina Montrait, followed, she too called Overholt’s statement a lie.

In the lobby, Michael White continued the diatribe.

“My brother died after being in jail for three days without (methadone),” yelled the former heroin addict, who has himself been on methadone for eight years. “How can they say it doesn’t kill you?”

His rant prompted Ontario Provincial Police officers to order him outside the Grosvenor St. court. There, the officers and White family lawyers Barry Swadron and Mercedes Perez encouraged the couple to go home.

However, as White and Montrait were preparing to drive off, Toronto police arrived and arrested them. They were later charged with uttering death threats.

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Dr. Richard Whitney, medical director of addiction services at Shepherd Hill, said time is critical when an adult takes an excessive dose of methadone or if a child ingests any of the "extremely potent drug." ...

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A 2-year-old boy died in March after apparently drinking from an open bottle of methadone, and his father has been charged in connection with the death.

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"If I don't get my methadone the next time you come around, you'll find me dead 'cuz I will kill myself."

That chilling threat was among the final words uttered by a frail Keigo White to guards at the Toronto (Don) Jail before they found him in his cell, unconscious, with a ligature around his neck, a coroner's inquest heard yesterday.

In an audio recording, Shaun Hall, whose cell was next to White's when the two were incarcerated there in October 2006, recalled for a police officer some of the Toronto man's final waking moments. "Every time a guard went by (White would) just say, `Where's my meth? When am I getting my meth? You can't leave me like this?'"

However, Hall also said he wasn't certain if the guards had heard White's threat of suicide.

"I heard (White) on the toilet getting sick very often, all day long," Hall told Det. Const. Tanya Bronsema. "He wouldn't come out of his cell, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink nothing. ... He was sick as a dog."

The five-person jury heard that White, a 40-year-old former heroin addict, was found without a pulse. He was revived but remained in a vegetative state and died nearly three months later.

Although Hall had been subpoenaed to testify, he didn't show up. Instead, jurors listened to the interview he gave police.

White's cellmate at the time, Jose Rocha, testified he was asleep when White hung himself and never heard him threaten suicide.

"The jail could've prevented it," said Rocha. "If he wanted methadone, they should've given him methadone."

The inquest resumes today.

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A 43-year-old Houma woman is charged with murder after the prescription methadone pills that she allegedly gave her 21-year-old boyfriend Sunday caused a fatal overdose.

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A Toronto man was charged with uttering death threats yesterday after shouting at a doctor who was testifying at an inquest into his brother's death at the Don Jail.

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