Michael Jackson: Doctor Shopping For Prescription Drugs

Michael Jackson’s much publicized death has brought to light the fact that Michael Jackson had over 19 aliases with which he purchased prescription drugs.

In a recent CNN report Dr. Jay Grossman, a dentist in L.A., reports that he receives many suspicious calls from drug addicts seeking pain medication.

"The moment somebody hangs up the phone on me, I know that they're literally going down the book. They're calling the next one in the Yellow Pages, hoping that someone will write them a prescription," said Dr. Grossman. "If you're an addict, one of your resources would certainly be a dentist."

If a person has prescription drugs on their shopping list, chances are they will call their local doctor or dentist to fill the order.   They are not looking for the best doctor to help with health needs, but rather searching out a doctor who will feed their habit.  This is known as "doctor shopping".

Prescription drug abuse has now eclipsed illegal drug abuse with our youth and quite often the abuse is happening right under the nose of unsuspecting family members.  All too often children are raiding the family medicine cabinet or buying drugs in the school yard from other children.

Dentists, doctors and veterinarians all become targets of addicts.   Drug addicts often contact these professionals under false pretenses, hoping to find a dishonest doctor or one who will simply fall for their story.  Many learn the various symptoms and ailments that warrant pain management and will feign the symptoms.

Only one in every 10,000 doctors loses his or her controlled substance registration each year as a result of DEA investigations into improper prescribing.

"All DEA registered practitioners and dentists registered with DEA must adhere to state laws and regulations as well as federal laws and regulations when dispensing or prescribing a controlled substance," says DEA special agent Gary Boggs.

Narconon of Georgia, Atlanta Recovery Center, has been actively providing the public with information on prescription drug abuse through its public service announcement and free brochures.  A collaborative "Operation Medicine Cabinet" event is planned for later in the month with a local Sheriff’s office. 

The public are encouraged to bring their unused prescription medications in exchange for gift cards.  Other communities are encouraged to do the same.