Jackson Jambalaya

The "so called" gov. jumps on any band-wagon he can because he has no band wagon of his own. This clown has never had an original thought in his life!

Yes, drugs are a problem in Mississippi as they are in every state and country; and everyone should work to get this issue under control. However, we have state agencies and law enforcement who are charged with the task to handle drug issues. If "so called gov." had wanted to work on this issue, he should have stayed with the Hinds County Sheriff's Department. He's certainly better suited for that job than to be the Governor of Mississippi!

Yawn. Bandwagon indeed. If people want to abuse drugs, let them. The "conservatives" (quotations intended) want as much of a Nanny State as the liberals, just in different areas. I can't believe I now need a prescription for a good decongestant! The law enforcement agencies want an easier job so they always push for sky-is-falling regulations and laws. Ugh.

Trying to figure out how drug abuse, be it prescription or illicit, is related to fifty year-old murders in Neshoba County? Otherwise, what in the fiery hell does Jerry Mitchell have to write about?

I read earlier where teenagers are mixing some type of flavored tea, skittles, and cough syrup and after drinking it they get the same type of high that you get from cocaine. As to the what people are carrying on over about pain killers, being addicted to pain killers has been a problem for over a hundred years now.

Meanwhile, hysteria like this makes it practically impossible for someone like me, a young 26 year old woman with diagnosed incurable neck spasm disorder, to get any real relief because I *must* be a junkie, right? I'm young, otherwise healthy-ish, and I don't look *outwardly* sick. It's this panicked frenzy the media loves to perpetuate that screws over LEGIT patients.

To make lean, or purple drank, you can mix sprite, or Arizona iced tea (see trayvon Martin) with jolly ranchers or skittles (also see Trayvon Martin), and add cough syrup. The cough syrup must contain codeine though.

Having experienced a loved one get dependent on prescription drugs, I am glad to see this problem getting some press. The doctors who prescribe this stuff instead of seeking a cure for "what ails ya" are lazy scum bags. I know of one who actually charges $25.00 just to write the prescription!! Personally, I am happy to see some attention paid to this growing problem which, because it is prescribed by a physician, seems to make it less offensive than street dope!!

2:50

You're the reason I can't buy a good sinus mediciation, right?

2:50 the person you know begged the Doc for the RX

someone said the painkiller abuse has been around 100 years. its really since the Civil War. wounded soldiers were given morphine to ease pain. many became addicted. after the war a new drug come into fashion which took the place of the morphine. it was deemed a miracle cure and was regarded has a hero substance. so they named it "heroin". True Story, look it up if you don't believe me!

Don't see a mention of this post on the other local conservative sites, do you? Guess what? You won't.

KF, that's because too many Republicans in this state are just Democrats who like God. They're not really invested in personal liberty or small government.

"KF, that's because too many Republicans in this state are just Democrats who like God."

BS. Men who "liked God" would show some fear of Him.

I practice medicine. Every day I have deal with people who ask me to give them pain meds, sedatives, and stimulants under false pretense. It takes up at least 20 percent of my time and could be 100 of my practice if I was without conscious. I feel bad for those who have real problems because we all have become skeptical.

I don't deny there is a problem. Not at all. However, it is also fair to point out there is always a drug hysteria every year or two. The problem doesn't seem to go away but we DO lose more privacy, rights, and privileges. When they don't lift a finger to save drug courts, that tells you the true motive, right there.

Marshall Fisher is a major league bullshit artist.

This guy is on a jihad against prescription narcotics. He actually thinks he knows better than your doctor when you should be prescribed drugs, the amount of the drug, the manner in which you obtain the drug after you get the prescription, and how you are monitored while taking the drug.

These are matters that should be left to those with licenses to practice medicine, not some government thug who really wanted to be a doctor but couldn't pass Chemistry and became a cop instead.

It should be noted, if it weren't for corrupt doctors there would be much much less addiction to prescriptions. I think the root of the problem is too many doctors are in the profession for the money, rather than helping their fellow man as used to be the case.

Yeah you are right 12:12. Most people want to spend 7-12 years in school for purely altruistic reasons. I guess human nature has just changed as well. Doctors used to make a lot more money than they do now, but I guess they just don't care as much as they used to. Human nature has changed a lot.
Do the people that take the drugs ( usually after they have harassed the MD for it) bear no responsibility? I guess it is the evil doctors, that are getting huge kickbacks..... Oh wait, those drugs haven't been name brand for several years. Why do you think it is in the doctor's interest to have a bunch of drug addicts for patients?

Re Curt Crowley's comments about Director Marshall Fisher:

How dare you make such comments about a man who has dedicated his life to fighting drugs, long before he came to Mississippi. I wonder if you'll be able to look back on your career and think about the lives you were able to save because of your strong convictions. You should be embarrassed about the comments you made....but that's right....you're an attorney....you don't get embarrassed....you're all about the money... unless you're a decent attorney....which is doubtful, because a decent attorney wouldn't have made such comments about one who has worked a whole lifetime to uphold the law, and protect innocent individuals, with the ultimate goal of saving lives. Now, that's the Marshall Fisher I know. Too bad you don't know him.

So, it's all caused by doctors. Hmm.

I watched a documentary recently. It said that an oxycodone tablet cost $80 on the streets in Boston. A bag of heroin costs only $10.

Follow the money.

No, of course it's not all caused by doctors. I think that's a given. We certainly don't need to be told that if you keep up with statistics. But, as you should know, if you do your research, we now know what some of the over the counter drugs are used for. What about those lives that are lost? Why down a person who is trying to save lives in any way we can? My goodness, heaven forbid, that could be someone you love who is able to get the drugs over the counter for the wrong reasons. Yes, they can get them elsewhere. We know that! Why make it easier??

Lets see.

Sudafed is causing all of the drug problems in the state! Run! Hide! The horror! Make it prescription now! Punish all of society because some damn fool is misusing it! Everyone must be punished.

Now how could we possibly have any type of drug problem because, according to the same folks, a few years ago Sudafed was the embodiment of the devil and it was pulled off the shelves.

Everything and anything can be abused. Its the PERSON doing the abusing that needs to be dealt with. The sky is not falling-again. We recognize that law enforcement and drug cases are frustrating as hell, but here's the problem.....when you change the regulations on law abiding citizens, it has NO EFFECT on the ones who were abusing in the first place because----they weren't obeying the law in the first place.

Idiots.

@7:23--name one life this bureaucrat has saved. One.

You, Mitchell and all the others who kiss this guy's butt need to realize the fact that Marshall Fisher is an abject FAILURE at his job. He is the quintessential crusading government thug who wants to inconvenience and control the subjects (fka citizens) in order to hide his incompetence and bloat his budget.

It is none of his damn business what legally-prescribed drugs a citizen is taking. None.

Amen Curt Crowley. If we decriminalized drugs and put people in treatment centers, Mitchell would be out of a job. Heresy no doubt.

Anyone but a complete idiot can see that the "War On Drugs" was lost years ago. Any cop worth a pinch of chicken shit knows this. But, every body needs a job - even thugs like Mitchell.

Of course, we could do what Mao did in the early 50's: machine-gunned every addict he could find. (Damn, I just gave Mitchell an idea.)

I served in the 7th SF group in the late 70's (primarily drug interdiction in Central and South America). It got to the point that it was laughable. How does one stop a tsunami.

I don't have the answer; but filling up our prisons with drug offenders is just plain stupid. Of course, a lot of people are getting rich off incarceration.

Or, we can blame it all on the doctors.

Crowley, your rattling on about Marshall Fisher only proves my point further. You do not know the man, and why?....you wouldn't mingle with a person of his integrity. And yes, I could name more than one life he has helped save, but I will not waste my time on you.....again, you don't know him. Sounds like a good old fashioned case of jealousy on your part. As I said, I will waste no more of my time with you. The people who know him know the truth about him....and the truth is....he's all that I stated he was and more...and people such as yourself make fools of themselves saying the things you do about such a fine upstanding person as Fisher. Once again, YOU DO NOT KNOW HIM. It is very easy for me to understand....there is no way you would have a friend such as he..you're not in his league.

2:06, one need not be BFFs with Mr. Fisher to hear or read his words and understand what those words mean in the English language.

The man has no respect for citizens' right to privacy, he injects himself into the physician-patient relationship (though he is woefully undereducated to do so), substitutes his unqualified medical judgment for that of doctors, and is engaging in dishonest media manipulation to force legislative action.

That's my only problem with your pal. Other than that, I am sure he is a lovely person.

The majority of the folks in Mississippi are in his corner, and understand what he's all about. I'm sure it's to your dismay that they don't agree with you. It's unfortunate that your education has not allowed you to understand what he's really all about and what his ultimate goal is. Maybe you could try some online courses.

I'm guessing the "majority of the folks in Mississippi" couldn't pick him out of a lineup if their lives depended on it.

And even if the "majority of the folks in Mississippi" did agree with him, my right to privacy is not subject to veto by the will of the alleged majority.

Unlike Mr. Fisher, my education has taught me that there's a bunch of s--t that is outside my area of expertise. Medicine is one of those things. That's why we have doctors. When it comes to what medicine I am prescribed, how much I take and how I obtain it, I want a doctor making that decision, not a pre-med student-turned cop-turned bureaucrat.

Mr. Crowley,
They don't need to pick him out of a line-up to agree with him! Really? hahaha Now, now, Mr. Crowley...it will be okay.
And as far as the name-calling?... very immature on your part. None of us should stoop to that. It truly shows lack of character.

Excellent comments at 7:38 pm

'my right to privacy is not subject to veto by the will of the alleged majority'

'When it comes to what medicine I am prescribed, how much I take and how I obtain it, I want a doctor making that decision.'

Very well said.