court ordered treatment

[Hoot1984]

I am currently in court order treatment for a DUII conviction in Oregon. They are basically forcing me to take this drug which will make me violently ill if I drink alcohol. I had no choice but to sign an agreement saying I will take it because if I didn't they would have kicked me out of their program and I would have gone back to a judge. They say the drug, Antabuse I think it is, is the perfect deterent to drinking alcohol. I say it falls under 'cruel and unusual punishment.' I truly believe this violates my rights in some way, only I'm no lawyer. I believe I was bullied into signing an agreement I did not want to sign and I want to know what are my legal options, if any?

Thank you.

 

[CdwJava]

Well ... you can pay a lawyer a lot of money to fight the treatment plan and go back to court (risking your freedom in the process).

You can also refuse to take the drug and risk going to jail for violating the terms of your probation.

Or, you can comply with the stipulations you signed and agreed to.

If you feel that there is a medical reason not to take the drug, then you might be able to bring that up - provided you have some evidence. if the reason you don't want to take it is that you might get ill when you sneak a nip in violation of your probation, then expect your argument to fail.

- Carl

 

[Hoot1984]

I would like to add....

I took it upon myself to read up on Antabuse. I started to read who SHOULD NOT take this drug and I found three different reasons as to why I shouldn't.
First, I have asthma and I read that people with asthma or similar respiratory problems should not be on this drug. Second, I have allergies. Antabuse can cause severe skin reactions, I read, which I believe I am succeptable to. I remember one time I had such a reaction to certain allergens on my skin I required a shot of adrenalin. I almost went to the hospital. The third reason is depression. I have had a history of depression, which is documented, and at one point I would say it was severe. I read specifically that people who are suicidal or just suffer from depression should not be on Antabuse.

Now that I have medical reasons straightened out, what is the next step? Do I need a doctors note or does my treatment facility need a call from a lawyer threatening a lawsuit? I don't want this to be ugly. I just don't want to take any crazy drug which will put my health at risk.

 

[CdwJava]

Well, in my state the first step might be to talk with your probation officer and explain your reasoning. The goal being to locate an alternative program. Your difficulty is going to be that you already agreed both to the probation and also to this treatment plan.

If probation refuses to accept it, you might have to suck up a jail stay for violating probation while you obtained an attorney to return to court to alter the probation stipulations.

- Carl

 

[stephenk]

Asthma, allergies, and depression? Nothing that a quart of vodka can't cure, right?

Funny how now you are so concerned about your health.

 

[Hoot1984]

Actually I just think its bullsh*t that anyone in this country can put something like that into someone elses body. If we started putting something like that into convicts in prison for whatever crime they commited the human rights activists would go nuts. This form of torture (and it is torture, making you violently ill) should not be allowed in our country today. It seems like something the ****s would have done.

I am more than willing to do everything else necessary to complete my court ordered treatment, and I have done everything so far. My objections to Antabuse are purely based on principle, and now my health concerns too.

So go ahead and think whatever you want based on a few paragraphs posted on the internet.

 

[CdwJava]

Actually I just think its bullsh*t that anyone in this country can put something like that into someone elses body.

I don't disagree with that statement. But your problem is that you agreed to it - and now you want to renege on that agreement.

If we started putting something like that into convicts in prison for whatever crime they commited the human rights activists would go nuts. This form of torture (and it is torture, making you violently ill) should not be allowed in our country today. It seems like something the ****s would have done.

It's not "torture" and it's not a violation of someone's civil rights to agree to do something. Some sex offenders have voulnteered for chemical "castration" in order to secure parole for their crimes. This is not something ordered by the court but something they agree to in lieu of staying in jail. Of course, there is a big debate as to whther this works and that has more to do with the debate over what rape might be (sex crime, or domination) than anything else.

I am more than willing to do everything else necessary to complete my court ordered treatment, and I have done everything so far. My objections to Antabuse are purely based on principle, and now my health concerns too.

Then why did you agree to it in the first place?

Now, you have to either go back to your probation officer and negotiate a new treatment plan, or, risk violating probation while you have an attorney fight it in court.

- Carl

 

[stephenk]

the medication alone does not make you ill. it only makes you ill if you drink alcohol. so the choice is yours regarding whether to drink and be ill. And that's the point, right? Making sure you stay sober during probation.

 

[jity]

Disulfiram plus even small amounts of alcohol produces flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, copious vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, marked uneasiness, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. In severe reactions, there may be respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. The intensity of the reaction may vary with each individual but is generally proportional to the amount of disulfiram and alcohol ingested. In the sensitive individual, mild reactions may occur when the blood alcohol concentration is increased to as little as 5 to 10 mg/100 mL. At a concentration of 50 mg/100 mL symptoms are usually fully developed, and when the concentration reaches 125 to 150 mg/100 mL unconsciousness may occur.

That list is to long, I need another beer!

 

[john123456]

Disulfiram plus even small amounts of alcohol produces flushing, throbbing in head and neck, throbbing headache, respiratory difficulty, nausea, copious vomiting, sweating, thirst, chest pain, palpitation, dyspnea, hyperventilation, tachycardia, hypotension, syncope, marked uneasiness, weakness, vertigo, blurred vision, and confusion. In severe reactions, there may be respiratory depression, cardiovascular collapse, arrhythmias, myocardial infarction, acute congestive heart failure, unconsciousness, convulsions, and death. The intensity of the reaction may vary with each individual but is generally proportional to the amount of disulfiram and alcohol ingested. In the sensitive individual, mild reactions may occur when the blood alcohol concentration is increased to as little as 5 to 10 mg/100 mL. At a concentration of 50 mg/100 mL symptoms are usually fully developed, and when the concentration reaches 125 to 150 mg/100 mL unconsciousness may occur.

That list is to long, I need another beer!

What was the point of your post?

 

[Some Random Guy]

The intensity of the reaction ...is generally proportional to the amount of disulfiram and alcohol ingested

OK, so stop drinking alcohol. You agreed to this "treatment" in exchange for a lesser punishment. Quit yer whining and do what you agreed to do.

 

[minerzlegal]

May I ask a question, which is how many DUI's have you had that would require you to be put on this drug? Must be more than one, but I could be wrong. The only effect I have ever known to accompany antabuse is if you throw a shooter or two on top of it, and then look out Molly Brown the after effect sucks. Good Luck.

 

[jity]

What was the point of your post?

What is the point of your question?

Disulfiram equals to the Brand name: Antabuse. This is what he is taking, I am simply informing the POSTER of additional information

 

[fagettaboutit]

Exactly what warnings were you given after signing off to take this drug? This medication came with precautions, right?

Granted, don't drink alcohol. But any other warnings beyond drinking wine, beer or alcohol? Which cough medicines did they advise you not take while on this medication? Which vitamins did they advise you not take?

What non-drinking alcohol containing products did they warn you not to come into contact with?

Please post every do-not-come-into-contact warning they gave you while taking this drug.

There's a huge list of dangerous contacts with this drug (beyond drinking alcohol). I hope they provided that list for you.

Some Random Guy

OK, so stop drinking alcohol. You agreed to this "treatment" in exchange for a lesser punishment. Quit yer whining and do what you agreed to do.

Do you really think that drug is limited to drinking?

Avoid sauces, vinegars, and all foods containing alcohol.

Tell me Some Random Guy, which sauces, vinegars and food containing alcohol do you know? List sauces first, then vinegars. If you even know, please tell this person so they don't have to get sick while justing eating.

It shouldn't be too difficult for anyone who has responded to this post. Sauces first, vinegars, second, then chemicals? Which ones contain more alcohol?

Do not come in contact with or breathe the fumes of paint, paint thinner, varnish, shellac, and other products containing alcohol. Exercise caution when applying alcohol-containing products (e.g., aftershave lotions, colognes, and rubbing alcohol) to your skin.

Oh NO, breathe in fumes of paint!

Okay, all you "experts" share your full knowledge of this drug. Give all the warnings, and of course, how to avoid alcohol that hasn't been consumed.

My bet, you can't do it. Thus far, jity has actually stepped out of the "oh-no-you-don't-try-to-think-otherwise"....box. Nice try, jity. But, there are no legal people worth their salt on this forum.

 

[fagettaboutit]

the medication alone does not make you ill. it only makes you ill if you drink alcohol. so the choice is yours regarding whether to drink and be ill. And that's the point, right? Making sure you stay sober during probation.

What's that stephenk?

the medication alone does not make you ill. it only makes you ill if you drink alcohol.

I'm sorry stephenk, can you repeat that?

the medication alone does not make you ill. it only makes you ill if you drink alcohol.

In addition to beverages, alcohol is found in many other products. Reading the list of ingredients on foods and other products before using them will help you to avoid alcohol. You can also avoid alcohol if you:

Do not use alcohol-containing foods, products, or medicines, such as elixirs, tonics, sauces, vinegars, cough syrups, mouth washes, or gargles.

Do not come in contact with or breathe in the fumes of chemicals that may contain alcohol, acetaldehyde, paraldehyde, or other related chemicals, such as paint thinner, paint, varnish, or shellac.

Use caution when using alcohol-containing products that are applied to the skin, such as some transdermal (stick-on patch) medicines or rubbing alcohol, back rubs, after-shave lotions, colognes, perfumes, toilet waters, or after-bath preparations. Using such products while you are taking disulfiram may cause headache, nausea, or local redness or itching because the alcohol in these products may be absorbed into your body. Before using alcohol-containing products on your skin, first test the product by applying some to a small area of your skin. Allow the product to remain on your skin for 1 or 2 hours. If no redness, itching, or other unwanted effects occur, you should be able to use the product.

Do not use any alcohol-containing products on raw skin or open wounds.

Don't take my word: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202603.html

That would be the same government that states over 17,000 "alcohol-related"

Your doctor may want you to carry an identification card stating that you are using this medicine. This card should list the symptoms most likely to occur if alcohol is taken, and the doctor, clinic, or hospital to be contacted in case of an emergency. These cards may be available from the manufacturer. Ask your health care professional if you have any questions about this

stephenk believes: it only makes you ill if you drink alcohol. But she doesn't know that...

Do not use alcohol-containing foods, products, or medicines, such as elixirs, tonics, sauces, vinegars, cough syrups, mouth washes, or gargles.

Do not come in contact with or breathe in the fumes of chemicals that may contain alcohol, acetaldehyde, paraldehyde, or other related chemicals, such as paint thinner, paint, varnish, or shellac.

It's a good thing that the people that responded to this message never drank alcohol....or drove tired...drove while speaking on cell phone. They think they never drove while being a dangerous driver.