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By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Elijah Dukes in Trouble Again

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

According to the Tampa Bay Times newspaper, former Tampa Rays baseball "great" Elijah Dukes was arrested once again on drug charges. The once promising player has seen his career unravel after numerous arrests for drug possession...

TAMPA — Former Rays outfielder Elijah Dukes was arrested early Thursday after he tried to eat a plastic bag of marijuana and had a marijuana blunt tucked behind his ear.

The 27-year-old ex-Tampa Ray player was pulled over in his 2011 Chevrolet Camaro about 1 a.m. at Nebraska Avenue N and Norfolk Street E after he committed a traffic violation, an officer wrote in an arrest report.

Police said after the pulled Dukes over, they noticed a small bag of marijuana on his lap. He then tried to dispose of the marijuana by sticking it in his mouth as if he was going to ingest it. This action is also against the law and is known as tampering with evidence, a criminal charge.

Then, after police removed the bag from his mouth and took Dukes into custody, they noticed a marijuana blunt "resting on his right ear," according to the report. Dukes was booked just after 3:30 a.m. and was still being held at the Hillsborough County Jail Thursday morning.

He faces charges of tampering with physical evidence, possession of less than 20 grams of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving with a cancelled, suspended or revoked license. He was also being held on two Hillsborough County warrants for driving with a suspended license.

Besides his drug arrests, Dukes has been arrested five times in the past year, mostly on charges of driving with a suspended license.

In March 2011, he was accused of hitting his pregnant ex-girlfriend, known as battery on a pregnant person, a felony.

In that case, the female, 20, told deputies she and Dukes had been staying in a motel for several days. On March 2, deputies responded to the East Lake Inn Motel, 6539 E Hillsborough Ave., where Mack said Dukes slapped her several times in the face during an argument.

Dukes, a Tampa native who attended Hillsborough High and last played in the majors in 2009 for the Nationals, left the motel for his mother's house on Royal Banyan Drive.


Past arrests for Dukes include contempt of court and failing to appear in a case where he owes an ex-wife child support and alimony.

In 2010, besides the crimnal matters, he owed three women a total of $143,000 in child support and alimony.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for marijuana possession or a crimnal matter? Then call your experienced St. Petersburg defense lawyers today at 727.286.6141. These former prosecutors and current St. Petersburg criminal defense attorneys
can also be contacted by pressing contact.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Driver in Fatal Crash High On Drugs

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

From the Tampa Times website, a man who was involved in a deadly fleeing and eluding crash was found to be high on prescription drugs and cocaine...

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — A suspect that tried to flee from officers on Jan. 10, but instead ended up causing a wreck that left him and five other people hospitalized and one person — the suspect's passenger, the man police actually wanted — dead.

St. Petersburg police arrested the suspect after he was released from the hospital on Wednesday, and revealed more about the man behind the wheel: He was high on prescription drugs and cocaine at the time of the crash and hadn't had a valid license in four years.

The driver, who was 40 at the time of the fatal crash, was charged with DUI manslaughter in the death of his passenger. He also faces charges of fleeing and eluding an officer with wanton disregard causing death, DUI involving serious bodily injury, driving with a suspended or revoked licence resulting in death, and two counts of DUI resulting in property damage.

On the day of the crash police were looking for a passenger in connection with a purse-snatching. Relatives told police the 29-year-old was a drug addict who regularly stole to support his habit. Officers said they were also told the man had carried a weapon in the past and vowed that he would not go back to prison.

Police found him in the passenger seat of a Kia driven by the suspect. They tried to stop the car at 22nd Avenue S and 46th Street S. A pursuit was authorized. A few minutes later, a K-9 officer activated his emergency lights and tried to pull the Kia over as it drove in St. Petersburg.

A minute later, police said the Kia turned into oncoming traffic on Fifth Avenue N, striking a 2000 Ford pick-up head-on and injuring the two occupants.

The wanted passenger was killed by the impact, police said. The suspect and the occupants of the other vehicles were hospitalized for various injuries. A blood test showed he had traces of oxycodone, opiates, benzodiazepines and cocaine in his system.

The suspect had also been declared a habitual traffic offender in 2008, records show. This means he was not even supposed to be driving.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a DUI or a prescription drug offense? Then call the St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyers at 727.286.6141 for a free consultation!

For more information or to speak directly to your St. Pete criminal defense attorneys,call the number above or click on contact. We are located at 4707 140th ave N, Suite 104, Clearwater, minutes from both the Tampa and the Pinellas county courthouses.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Naked Burglar or Reese's Cup?

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

A rather humorous story from the smoking gun website, about a man who was arrested for burglary, found naked and covered in dessert...

FEBRUARY 3--A naked burglar covered in chocolate and peanut butter was arrested early Tuesday after workers found him inside a Kentucky (add shock here) supermarket.

Andrew Toothman, 22 and the burglary suspect, was collared by State troopers who responded to a 911 call from a Food World supermarket in the city of Neon. The naked burglar was charged burglary, criminal mischief, and indecent exposure.

A court citation filed yesterday notes that Toothman--who was only wearing a pair of black boots--had “peanut butter and chocolate smeared all over person.” Troopers noted that the store’s front door was “busted out,” and that several fire extinguishers had been discharged. Peanut butter and chocolate were also spread on the market's floor and in the manager’s office.

But the most bizarre bit of vandalism, reporetedly involved NyQuil, the popular cold and flu remedy. “There was nyquil on the floor that spelled out sorry,” according to the police report.

Toothman admitted to breaking into the market, troopers noted. The hapless burglar is being held in the Letcher County jail in lieu of $25,000 bond.

Are you in need of experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyers to fight your burglary or criminal mischief charges? Then contact Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today! These former State prosecutors are now fighting on your side.

For more information or to talk directly with your St. Petersburg criminal defense attorneys, hit contact or call them at 727.286.6141.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Race Car Driver Charged With DUI Manslaughter

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

Originally reported on NBC's Miami website, a famous race car driver may now have to "face the music" as he has been charged with a DUI manslaughter for his role in a deadly crash...

A man who struck and killed a pedestrian with his SUV in Miami Beach recently was none other then Brazilian race car driver J.P. Mauro, according to a Miami police report.

The 20-year-old Brazilian race car driver was driving a silver Mercedes-Benz SUV north on Collins Avenue at about 60 mph in a 30 mph zone when his car swerved left and drove up onto the sidewalk at about 1:30 a.m., said a Miami Beach Police spokesman.

That is where the drunk driver struck a pedestrian who was attempting to put his bicycle into a rear door of another SU. The impact threw the hapless victim “to the sidewalk, mid-block” and he died on the scene.

The Mercedes, driven by J.P. Mauro, kept going north on the sidewalk until it stopped several blocks later.

The driver, whose legal name is acually Joao Paulo Escudero Mauro, had a flushed face and bloodshot eyes, classic signs of a possible DUI. His breath also smelled heavily of alcohol. Mauro acknowledged swerving to avoid a vehicle stopped in traffic in front of him, and that he had been drinking earlier.

Police also noted that Mauro had “a white powdery substance in his left nostril,” and that they found a small baggie of what appeared to be cocaine near where he was standing,some time after the crash.

Mauro has been charged with DUI manslaughter, vehicular homicide, and cocaine possession, and another charge because he altered his Brazilian state ID card to make him appear of age for drinking alcohol here, police said.

The police are claiming that J.P. Mauro is “a flight risk” and comes from a wealthy family in Brazil, and that the Brazilian Consulate was notified at the request of Mauro’s father.

As a racer, Mauro has competed in Brazilian stock car racing, and made his American debut at a Grand-Am Road Racing event, the Road America 200 Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge in Wisconsin, last June.

I have written in this blog previously about a synergistic affect when it comes to drinkin and driving...That simply means combining alcohol and drugs (such as in this case) can enhance the affects of the two substances, making the user feel more "under the influence" then they might otherwise...

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a DUI or possession of cocaine? Then call the experienced St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyers of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today at 727.286.6141. You can also email your St. Pete criminal defense attorneys by clicking here...

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Sorry, Wrong Number!

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

From a CBS affiliate in Conneticut, an amusing read about small time drug dealers who accidentely text the police...

While a recent Pew Research study found that almost 75 percent of cell phone owners send text message and those who do, send an average of more than 40 messages each day. With all those text messages coming and going, it’s not surprising that some reach the wrong recipients.

In the Conneticut town of Meridan, police say officers received a text from an unknown sender, offering black market sale of Percocet tablets, the prescription combination of oxycodone and acetaminophen. The quick-thinking cop notified the drug unit, continued communication with the texter, and set up a “buy.”

Police say the two people who showed up to sell the drugs grew suspicious, separated and tried to run, but police were able to take both the unlucky texters into custody and seized 100 Percocet tablets.

Police identified the suspects as a 25-year-old man of Wallingford and a 19-year-old woman of Mansfield. Both face charges of criminal attempt to sell narcotics and conspiracy, and the woman also faces charges involving her attempt to escape.

Police say the investigation continues as they look for the source of the drugs and the person for whom the message was actually intended.

Have you or someone you know been arrested for possession of a controlled substance or sale of controlled substance? Then call the experienced Pinellas criminal defense lawyers of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today at 727.286.6141.

For more information, hit the contact button or call now.

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Synthetic Pot?

By Nick Dorsten, Esq.

Is synthetic marijuana more dangerous then pot? An interesting article from the Tampa times...

The package is small and brightly colored. It's in a case near the register, not locked up with the cigarettes but rather alongside the breath mints and not far from the candy.

The label clearly states it is not suitable for children and not intended for consumption, but those who buy it aren't always big on warnings.

This innocuous cellophane package contains a synthetically formulated and chemically enhanced marijuana substitute marketed as incense.

And this neighborhood convenience store, down the street from elementary and middle schools, may be THE new drug corner.

If you saw the headlines last week, you understand the concern today. A bright, charismatic college freshman died in a swimming mishap after reportedly smoking this perfectly legal incense.

To be clear, this isn't just a rant against the evils of drugs. And it isn't a sermon on the virtues of a vice-free society.

It's just a writer trying to comprehend how keeping our children away from pot may have led them to a more dangerous and easily accessible drug.

"Kids are kids; they're going to do some things you wish they wouldn't," said the medical director for the Florida Poison Information Center. "But having kids play with this stuff scares me to death."

So what's the danger of synthetic pot? It's a matter of escalating problems.

First of all is availability. Since it is technically incense, it can be sold at convenience stores and gas stations, as well as on the Internet. This gives it a false appearance of legitimacy and safety. It also makes it more accessible for minors.

Outlawing it is difficult because manufacturers simply change the composition slightly and have a new, and once again legal, product.

Ingredients are another concern because no one is monitoring the chemicals being used. There are websites that critique brands of incense, giving higher marks to products with increasingly hallucinatory results, encouraging manufacturers to continue pushing the envelope.

The end result is that instead of smoking marijuana, there is now an incentive to smoke synthetic drugs that are cheaper, produce greater highs, don't show up in most standard drug tests and won't get you arrested.

The drawback is increasing danger.

The American Association of Poison Control Centers reported that calls for synthetic marijuana doubled between 2010 and 2011. A product known as bath salts, which mimics cocaine or meth, went from 300 calls to 5,600.

So what's the solution? That's what's so disturbing. There is not an easy answer.

ETo make matters worse, even if there was some way to slow down synthetic drugs legally, it will simply force the market underground.

We have to stop just saying no to our children and start explaining why. We have to be realistic about the allure of drugs before we can educate about the dangers. We have to stop obsessing about the supply and better address the demand. And we have to recognize it is not someone else's children at stake, but our own.

Is this writer correct? There may not be any easy answers. The current war on drugs has been expensive and at best has given mixed results. There are arguments for legalization of certain types of drugs (such as marijuana) but that also has its own issues. What is a criminal defense lawyer's opinion on this issue? Until our society decides to slow down, our kids will be increasingly at risk for this behavior...

If you are in need of a St. Petersburg criminal defense attorney for a possession of marijuana or a drug charge, don't wait, call us now at 727.286.6141.

To email your St. Petersburg criminal defense lawyers, you can also contact us via email at info@blakedorstenlaw.com

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Top 10 Dangerous Prescription Drugs

Something different this week, a guest post by Paige Dagmar, a student and writer for pharmacy degrees, which helps students find the right pharmacy degree...

Top 10 Danger Prescriptions

We all probably need a prescription medication at some or other in our lives, but how many of them are doing more harm than good? With the FDA constantly recalling drugs and daytime television riddled with class action lawsuits against drug companies, it can be a scary thing to have that prescription refilled. To help give you a better idea, we have gathered just ten of the most dangerous prescription drugs out there. Be sure and take all prescriptions as advised, and if you are concerned about being prescribed any of these, talk to your doctor about alternatives.

1. Oxycodone – Also commonly known as OxyContin, this is one of the most dangerous and addictive prescription drugs out there. It is an opiate class drug and is used as a pain killer, but is very addictive. Abuse of the drug is common and counted for over 100,000 visits to the ER in the U.S. in 2009.

2. Cortisone – These injections are actually commonplace and used to treat ailments such as allergic reactions and poison ivy. It is a type of steroid that is normally produced in the body but can be dangerous. It is less dangerous when used in the short term, but when taken over a long period of time can cause heart disorders, ulcers, diabetes, and even intestinal bleeding.

3. Chemotherapeutic drugs – Have you ever heard someone say that it wasn’t the cancer that killed them, it was the chemotherapy? They are telling the truth as these drugs, also known as methotrexate, work by ravaging the cancer, which is also does damage to the body. This is why chemotherapy is used as a latter resort and why early detection of cancer is so important.

4. Clozapine – This prescription drug is used as an anti-psychotic and often used to treat disorders such as schizophrenia. Also known as Fazaclo, it can also cause serious blood conditions, seizures, or swelling of the heart muscle. Because the drug is so dangerous, doctors often use it as a last resort and have patients undergo several tests before they take it.

5. Acetaminophen – You may better recognize this drug as Tylenol. While the pill is safe for over the counter use for many patients, there is a danger in over use. Those who take acetaminophen for a long period of time, over four grams a day, or for days at a time can experience liver damage, among other issues. Patients with liver or other digestive issues should ask their doctor before taking acetaminophen.

6. Prozac – An anti-depression drug that can lead to suicide? These were the claims when those who took Prozac began showing thoughts of suicide. Also known as fluoxetine, it is intended to regulate serotonin in the brain but can also bring about a state of constant agitation, which can be worse than depression. This is one of the reasons why Prozac is rarely prescribed for depression anymore.

7. Methadone – It is the suspected drugs in many celebrity deaths, including the son of Anna Nicole Smith. It is used as an aid to those trying to withdraw from methamphetamines, but is often misused by the addicts themselves and others. Along with the addictive properties of methadone, it can also cause sleep apnea, in which those who take it stop breathing in their sleep and can die.

8. Statins – These kinds of drugs are taken to lower cholesterol and are also known as Zocor, Mevacor, and Pravachol. They work by reducing cholesterol in the liver but can also cause liver toxicity, cataracts, and muscle inflammation if taken for a long period of time.

9. Blood thinners – Also used to treat heart issues, blood thinners are more for patients who have or are prone to heart attacks and/or strokes. Taking blood thinners has been known to weaken the patient to bleeding even from small scratches. Those taking them should use extreme caution and have even minor cuts treated immediately.

10. Ritalin – Commonly used to treat ADD and ADHD, this drug and its counterpart Adderall can have side effects worse than the conditions they are supposed to treat. These side effects can include hostility, insomnia, and anxiety. Worse yet, since ADD and ADHD can commonly be misdiagnosed, the patients taking these drugs can be doing it without due cause.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for a possession of a controlled substance charge? Then contact the criminal defense lawyers at Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today for a free consultation!

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - Tampa Resident Charged in Bomb Plot!

By Nick Dorsten, Esq.

From yahoo news, a breaking story about a bomb plot...

A 25-year-old resident of Pinellas Park, Fla., has been charged in connection with an alleged plot to attack locations in Tampa with a vehicle bomb, assault rifle and other explosives, announced an U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Florida and a Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Tampa Division.

Sami Osmakac, a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in the former Yugoslavia (Kosovo), was arrested Saturday night. He is charged in a criminal complaint in the Middle District of Florida with one count of attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction (explosives) and is scheduled to make his initial appearance today at 2:00 p.m. EST, in federal court, before an U.S. Magistrate in Tampa. If convicted, Osmakac faces a maximum sentence of life in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The arrest of Osmakac was the culmination of an undercover operation during which Osmakac was closely monitored by law enforcement officials for several months. The explosives and firearms that he allegedly sought and attempted to use were rendered inoperable by law enforcement and posed no threat to the public.

“The perseverance and diligence of law enforcement caused this investigation to conclude in a successful manner,” said an U.S. Attorney. “I would like to commend them for their hard work. This investigation was also predicated, in part, by assistance from the Muslim community. I would like to thank them as well.”

“The facts as alleged in this case underscore the need for continued vigilance both at home and abroad. Thanks to a coordinated law enforcement effort, this alleged plot was thwarted before anyone was harmed,” said an Assistant Attorney General. “I applaud the many agents, analysts and prosecutors who worked together to ensure this matter was resolved safely.”

“The Tampa FBI Division has always considered its relationships with regional community groups throughout Central and Southwest Florida extremely important. In this case, we are grateful for the Muslim community’s continued support. This incident clearly demonstrated how citizens can help law enforcement keep our neighborhoods and our nation safe,” said the FBI Special Agent in Charge.

According to the complaint affidavit, in Sept. 2011, the FBI received information from a confidential human source (CHS) indicating that Osmakac had asked for al-Qaeda flags. In November 2011, Osmakac and the CHS discussed and identified potential targets, in Tampa, where Osmakac intended on carrying out violent attacks. Osmakac allegedly asked the CHS for help in obtaining firearms and explosives for the attacks. The CHS indicated that he/she knew someone who might be able to provide firearms and explosives and introduced Osmakac to an undercover FBI employee.

The complaint alleges that Osmakac met with the undercover FBI employee, in person, on Dec. 21, 2011, and stated that he wished to acquire an AK-47-style machine gun, Uzi submachine guns, high capacity magazines, grenades and an explosive belt. In a subsequent meeting, Osmakac allegedly provided the undercover FBI employee with a $500 down payment for an AK-47, multiple homemade explosive grenades and the explosive belt.

According to the complaint, Osmakac also asked the undercover employee whether he/she could build bombs that could be placed in three different vehicles and detonated remotely, near where Osmakac would conduct a follow-up attack using the other weapons he requested. The undercover employee said he/she could possibly provide explosives for one vehicle. Osmakac also allegedly said that he wanted an explosive belt constructed to kill people.

During a subsequent meeting with the FBI undercover employee on Jan. 1, 2012, Osmakac allegedly described his attack plans by stating that he wanted to obtain a hotel room; park the vehicle with the bomb in it at his target; leave the area; detonate the car bomb; and then retrieve the weapons and explosives from the hotel room. Among Osmakac’s alleged bomb targets were night clubs in the Ybor City area of Tampa, the operations center of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office in Ybor City and a business in the South Tampa area of Tampa.

The complaint alleges that, as part of the second portion of his planned attack, Osmakac told the undercover FBI employee that, after the car bomb was detonated, he wanted to use the explosive belt to “get in somewhere where there’s a lot of people” and take hostages. He allegedly stated that he would then make demands of the FBI to release some prisoners. According to the criminal complaint, when discussing law enforcement officers that might respond to the scene, Osmakac allegedly stated, “once I have this . . . they can take me in five million pieces” in an apparent reference to the explosive belt that would be attached to his waist.

During the Jan. 1st meeting, the undercover FBI employee noted that Osmakac could change his mind and back out of the plot. According to the complaint, Osmakac immediately shook his head in the negative and stated, “We all have to die, so why not die the Islamic way?”

On Jan. 7, 2012, FBI agents arrested Osmakac after he took possession of the explosive devices and firearms that had been rendered inoperable by law enforcement. The complaint alleges that, shortly prior to his arrest, Osmakac made a video of himself explaining his motives for carrying out the planned violent attack.

This investigation is being conducted by the FBI Tampa Division and the Tampa Joint Terrorism Task Force. It is being prosecuted by an Assistant U.S. Attorney from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida, with assistance from the Counterterrorism Section in the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

The charges contained in the criminal complaint are mere allegations. As in any criminal case, the defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

If you are in need for representation for a firearm or weapons offense in the Tampa Bay area, contact the law firm of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. today! These Tampa Bay area criminal defense lawyers offer free consultations and aggresive representation. For more information, contact Blake & Dorsten, P.A. at www.info@blakedorstenlaw.com

Tampa Bay Criminal Defense Lawyer - New Powerful Painkiller

By Nicholas Dorsten, Esq.

From the Tampa Bay Times website, a new painkiller has some medical and law enforcement experts worried...

PINELLAS — Drug companies are working to develop a pure, more powerful version of the nation's second most-abused medicine, which has addiction experts worried that it might even spur a new wave of drug abuse.

These new pills contain the highly addictive painkiller hydrocodone, packing up to 10 times the amount of the drug as existing medications such as that found in the brand name Vicodin. A new company, Zogenix of San Diego‚ plans to apply early next year to begin marketing its product, Zohydro.

If approved, it would mark the first time patients could legally buy pure hydrocodone. Existing products combine the drug with nonaddictive painkillers such as acetaminophen.

Some critics say they are especially worried about Zohydro, a timed-release drug meant for managing moderate to severe pain, because of fears that abusers could crush it to release an intense, immediate high.

"I have a big concern that this could be the next OxyContin," said the president of the National Coalition Against Prescription Drug Abuse. "We just don't need this on the market."

OxyContin, introduced in 1995 by Purdue Pharma, was designed to manage pain with a formula that dribbled one dose of oxycodone over many hours.

Quickly, abusers discovered they could defeat the timed-release feature by crushing the pills. When Purdue Pharma changed the formula to make OxyContin more tamper-resistant, the addicts have moved onto generic oxycodone and other drugs that do not have a timed-release feature.

Oxycodone is now the most-abused medicine in the United States, with hydrocodone second, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration's annual count of drug seizures sent to police drug labs for analysis.

The latest drug tests come as more pharmaceutical companies are getting into the $10 billion-a-year legal market for powerful, and addictive, opiate narcotics.

The pharmaceutical firms say the new hydrocodone drugs give doctors another tool to try on patients in legitimate pain, part of a constant search for better painkillers to treat the aging U.S. population.

"Sometimes you circulate a patient between various opioids, and some may have a better effect than others," said a chief executive of Denmark-based Egalet, which is testing its own pure hydrocodone product.

The companies say a pure hydrocodone pill may avoid liver problems linked to high doses of acetaminophen, an ingredient in products like Vicodin. They also say patients will be more closely supervised because, by law, they will have to return to their doctors each time they need more pills. Prescriptions for the weaker, hydrocodone-acetaminophen products now on the market can be refilled up to five times.

Zogenix has completed three rounds of patient testing, and last week it announced it had held a final meeting with Food and Drug Administration officials to talk about its upcoming drug application. It plans to file the application in early 2012 and have Zohydro on the market by early 2013.

Purdue Pharma and Cephalon, a Frazer, Pa.-based unit of Israel-based Teva Pharmaceuticals, are conducting late-stage trials of their own hydrocodone drugs, according to documents filed with federal regulators. In May, Purdue Pharma received a patent applying extended-release technology to hydrocodone. Neither company would comment on its plans.

Meanwhile, Egalet has finished the most preliminary stages of testing aimed at determining the basic safety of a drug. The firm could have a product on the market as early as 2015 but wants to see how the other companies fare with the FDA before deciding whether to move forward.

Critics say they are troubled because of the dark side that has accompanied the boom in sales of narcotic painkillers: murders, pharmacy robberies and millions of dollars lost by hospitals that must treat overdose victims.

Thousands of legitimate pain patients are becoming addicted to powerful prescription painkillers, they say, in addition to the thousands more who abuse the drugs.

Prescription painkillers led to the deaths of almost 15,000 people in 2008, more than triple the 4,000 deaths in 1999, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported last month.

Emergency room visits related to hydrocodone abuse have shot from 19,221 in 2000 to 86,258 in 2009, according to data compiled by the Drug Enforcement Administration. In Florida alone, hydrocodone caused 910 deaths and contributed to 1,803 others between 2003 and 2007.

Have you or a loved one been arrested for possession of a controlled substance or drug trafficking? Then contact the Clearwater criminal defense attorneys of Blake & Dorsten, P.A. for a free consultation!

For more information, or to speak directly with experienced Clearwater criminal defense lawyers,please contact BLAKE & DORSTEN, P.A. at 727.286.6141 or email the lawyers your questions at: info@blakedorstenlaw.com. We are located at 4707 140th Ave N, Suite 104 in Clearwater, across from the criminal courthouse in the airport business center, minutes from Tampa and St. Petersburg.