February 2018 News Articles - California and National
2/27/18 New DOJ Opioid Task Force Complements Ongoing E&C Investigation
AG Jeff Sessions convenes “Prescription Interdiction and Litigation” Task Force.
Two Congressional Committees holding hearings… more on the opioid crisis than on residential recovery.
2/27/18 Costa Mesa sober-living home approval for permit to stay open
Confusion arises over whether a state-licensed facility less than 650 feet away “counts.”
2/27/18 Watch live: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher holds a Facebook ‘town hall’ meeting
Congressman Rohrabacher ran a meeting, taking questions about sober living and other issues, on Facebook.
2/26/18 So-called ‘Rehab Mogul’ raped women, dealt drugs in treatment centers
Found guilty on 31 counts.
2/26/18 Feds investigating Pittsburgh ties to fraudulent drug rehab centers in Florida
Hundreds of cases of addicts lured/brokered to Florida for their insurance reimbursements
2/26/18 Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas’ son dies at California substance-abuse facility
Son of former Chicago Public Schools executive dies at New Existence Recovery in Huntington Beach.
2/23/18 For Executives, Addiction Recovery in the Lap of Luxury
Another recovered addict offers luxury rehab at $70-80,000 per month. Executives don’t want to recover with younger addicts.
2/15/18 Does Rehab Really Work? This Addiction Psychiatrist Isn’t So Sure
Rehab was designed for alcohol treatment, not for drug treatment
2/13/18 Costa Mesa commission denies 3 permit applications from sober-living operator and delays another
Business was putting up to 37 tenants at two addresses, close to a state licensed facility.
2/12/18 Patent Brokering: Making profit off opioid addiction
Brokers admit to receiving thousands of dollars from referrals.
2/10/18 End of an era: Purdue to stop marketing opioids to doctors
Purdue Pharma, behind the overprescription of opioids, stops marketing them.
2/9/18 Death in rehab generates $7 million award
Detox staff did not send patient for medical care; he slit his neck and arms and no one noticed.
2/9/18 Why the Disease Definition of Addiction Does Far More Harm Than Good
The stigma of chronic illness suggests an addict can never get better.
2/6/18 Alabama sues OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma over opioid epidemic
Another state sues Purdue for its role in spreading the fiction that OxyContin isn't addictive
2/6/18 Rubio asks feds to crack down on Florida sober homes, drug rehabs
Senator demands federal action on kickbacks, fraud, and trafficking.
2/5/18 Sanders Demands Investigation into Pharma’s Role in Opioid Epidemic
Insists pharmaceutical companies testify before Congress.
2/5/18 Embattled Sovereign Health closing and consolidating centers
Closing El Paso, TX; Chandler, AZ; and part of Culver City facilities.
2/5/18 California wrote its addiction treatment laws in the 70’s. Lawmakers say an update is in order.
Summary of State Senate Health Committee Hearing at the end of January.
AG Jeff Sessions convenes “Prescription Interdiction and Litigation” Task Force.
Two Congressional Committees holding hearings… more on the opioid crisis than on residential recovery.
2/27/18 Costa Mesa sober-living home approval for permit to stay open
Confusion arises over whether a state-licensed facility less than 650 feet away “counts.”
2/27/18 Watch live: Rep. Dana Rohrabacher holds a Facebook ‘town hall’ meeting
Congressman Rohrabacher ran a meeting, taking questions about sober living and other issues, on Facebook.
2/26/18 So-called ‘Rehab Mogul’ raped women, dealt drugs in treatment centers
Found guilty on 31 counts.
2/26/18 Feds investigating Pittsburgh ties to fraudulent drug rehab centers in Florida
Hundreds of cases of addicts lured/brokered to Florida for their insurance reimbursements
2/26/18 Former CPS CEO Paul Vallas’ son dies at California substance-abuse facility
Son of former Chicago Public Schools executive dies at New Existence Recovery in Huntington Beach.
2/23/18 For Executives, Addiction Recovery in the Lap of Luxury
Another recovered addict offers luxury rehab at $70-80,000 per month. Executives don’t want to recover with younger addicts.
2/15/18 Does Rehab Really Work? This Addiction Psychiatrist Isn’t So Sure
Rehab was designed for alcohol treatment, not for drug treatment
2/13/18 Costa Mesa commission denies 3 permit applications from sober-living operator and delays another
Business was putting up to 37 tenants at two addresses, close to a state licensed facility.
2/12/18 Patent Brokering: Making profit off opioid addiction
Brokers admit to receiving thousands of dollars from referrals.
2/10/18 End of an era: Purdue to stop marketing opioids to doctors
Purdue Pharma, behind the overprescription of opioids, stops marketing them.
2/9/18 Death in rehab generates $7 million award
Detox staff did not send patient for medical care; he slit his neck and arms and no one noticed.
2/9/18 Why the Disease Definition of Addiction Does Far More Harm Than Good
The stigma of chronic illness suggests an addict can never get better.
2/6/18 Alabama sues OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma over opioid epidemic
Another state sues Purdue for its role in spreading the fiction that OxyContin isn't addictive
2/6/18 Rubio asks feds to crack down on Florida sober homes, drug rehabs
Senator demands federal action on kickbacks, fraud, and trafficking.
2/5/18 Sanders Demands Investigation into Pharma’s Role in Opioid Epidemic
Insists pharmaceutical companies testify before Congress.
2/5/18 Embattled Sovereign Health closing and consolidating centers
Closing El Paso, TX; Chandler, AZ; and part of Culver City facilities.
2/5/18 California wrote its addiction treatment laws in the 70’s. Lawmakers say an update is in order.
Summary of State Senate Health Committee Hearing at the end of January.
February 2018 News Articles - Other States
2/28/18 Sober Living Facilities in Denver Cause Controversy (CO)
2/27/18 Murphy, Panel Tackle Sober Home Reform at Pace Forum (MA)
2/26/18 Feds investigating Pittsburgh ties to fraudulent drug rehab centers in Florida (PA)
2/26/18 Liquid Gold Rush: The $95,244 Urine Tests (GA)
2/26/18 Finding the right place for sober houses (MA)
2/25/18 Arizona Department of Health to license ‘sober living’ homes (AZ)
2/25/18 Neighbors concerned about sober home (MA)
2/23/18 Owner of sober living home where fire killed 3 defends herself (TN)
2/22/18 Sober home dispute: City wants more information on facility; Methuen files cease and desist against facility (MA)
2/21/18 Lawmakers react to DiCiccio push on sober living homes (AZ)
2/21/18 Sober Home and Drug Treatment Center Owned Sentenced: Facilities Preyed on Vulnerable Adults Struggling with Addiction (FL)
2/20/18 Legislators, Sober Home Owners Call for Regulation (FL)
2/20/18 Philadelphia, a City Stalked by Overdoses, Fights Back (PA)
2/20/18 Yorktown officials: Sober living facility where teen died had its permit revoked (NY)
2/18/18 Sober living homes: Precott’s count is down 77%; Prescott Valley is up about 33%
2/18/18 Bills take aim at Arizona’s booming drug rehab industry (AZ)
2/15/18 Lawmakers move to regulate “sober living” group homes (AZ)
2/15/18 Three people killed after fire breaks out in sober living home (TN)
2/15/18 Got ‘sober living’ homes in your neighborhood? Arizona may begin licensing them (AZ)
2/14/18 Westchester couple sues sober home over Rye High School senior Hank McWilliam’s OD death (NY)
2/14/18 Oregon City neighbors concerned about felons and sex offenders moving into nearby home (OR)
2/13/18 After fatal fires, Houston officials propose stronger lodging house safety rules (TX)
2/11/18 Drug addicted New Yorkers scammed out of thousands of dollars as treatment fraud spreads (NY)
2/6/18 Data: Opioid Epidemic Driving More Children Into Foster Care (IN)
2/2/18 Rep. Curcio’s ‘SAFE’ bill addresses Dickson recovery homes (TN)
2/27/18 Murphy, Panel Tackle Sober Home Reform at Pace Forum (MA)
2/26/18 Feds investigating Pittsburgh ties to fraudulent drug rehab centers in Florida (PA)
2/26/18 Liquid Gold Rush: The $95,244 Urine Tests (GA)
2/26/18 Finding the right place for sober houses (MA)
2/25/18 Arizona Department of Health to license ‘sober living’ homes (AZ)
2/25/18 Neighbors concerned about sober home (MA)
2/23/18 Owner of sober living home where fire killed 3 defends herself (TN)
2/22/18 Sober home dispute: City wants more information on facility; Methuen files cease and desist against facility (MA)
2/21/18 Lawmakers react to DiCiccio push on sober living homes (AZ)
2/21/18 Sober Home and Drug Treatment Center Owned Sentenced: Facilities Preyed on Vulnerable Adults Struggling with Addiction (FL)
2/20/18 Legislators, Sober Home Owners Call for Regulation (FL)
2/20/18 Philadelphia, a City Stalked by Overdoses, Fights Back (PA)
2/20/18 Yorktown officials: Sober living facility where teen died had its permit revoked (NY)
2/18/18 Sober living homes: Precott’s count is down 77%; Prescott Valley is up about 33%
2/18/18 Bills take aim at Arizona’s booming drug rehab industry (AZ)
2/15/18 Lawmakers move to regulate “sober living” group homes (AZ)
2/15/18 Three people killed after fire breaks out in sober living home (TN)
2/15/18 Got ‘sober living’ homes in your neighborhood? Arizona may begin licensing them (AZ)
2/14/18 Westchester couple sues sober home over Rye High School senior Hank McWilliam’s OD death (NY)
2/14/18 Oregon City neighbors concerned about felons and sex offenders moving into nearby home (OR)
2/13/18 After fatal fires, Houston officials propose stronger lodging house safety rules (TX)
2/11/18 Drug addicted New Yorkers scammed out of thousands of dollars as treatment fraud spreads (NY)
2/6/18 Data: Opioid Epidemic Driving More Children Into Foster Care (IN)
2/2/18 Rep. Curcio’s ‘SAFE’ bill addresses Dickson recovery homes (TN)