Facts:  Jeremy Mayfield was an accomplished NASCAR driver until a random drug test administered by the organization showed that Mr. Mayfield was using methamphetamine.  After NASCAR suspended Mr. Mayfield, he challenged the validity of the original test in court and actually had the judge reinstate him.  NASCAR appealed the ruling and asked Mr. Mayfield to take a second drug test.  This test once again showed that Mr. Mayfield was using methamphetamine.  The appellate court obviously reinstated the original suspension.  

Unfortunately, it seems that Mr. Mayfield has still not been able to abandon the drug use.  Last week, Mr. Mayfield was arrested with 1.5 grams of methamphetamine at his home.  The police also found approximately $100,000 worth of local merchandise, which is being investigated as possibly stolen.  The police also uncovered approximately forty guns at his home; again, the police are ensuring the guns are properly registered before charging him.  As of right now, the only charges Mr. Mayfield faces are for possession of 1.5 grams of methamphetamine.  

Legal:  In North Carolina, possessing methamphetamine is a Schedule II felony.  A first offense may be charged as a misdemeanor punishable by 45 days in jail.  Depending on the quantity of methamphetamine and the number of prior convictions, it may also be charged as a felony, punishable by up to 4-5 months in jail.

Analysis:  Because of the increasing concern for those that use methamphetamine, North Carolina’s Crime Commission has had to create a specific fact sheet  to help combat the problem.  Methamphetamine is a very serious drug that must be avoided at all costs.  Methamphetamine is a psychologically addictive drug.  Users feel incredible highs that they struggle to repeat; so, they continue to use in larger doses until they are fully addicted to the drug.  The chase for the “high” makes users very paranoid, aggressive, and dangerous.  

In Mr. Mayfield’s case, he had a very high paying job driving in NASCAR races.  This is a dream job for Mr. Mayfield, but he let drugs consume his life.  Consider the irrational behavior that Mr. Mayfield exhibited while in NASCAR.  He failed a drug test and turned to the court system to help get his job back.  After he was actually reinstated, he continued to use methamphetamine and was caught a second time.  He knew that he was very close to having his job back but could not resist the temptation of drugs.

This case clearly illustrates the struggle that drug users have in breaking the cycle of addiction.  No matter how much money, fame, and glory Mr. Mayfield had in NASCAR, he could not resist the need to use.  To make matters worse, he is now caught up in the legal system, and NASCAR’s governing body is no longer his biggest problem.  Now, there are allegations that stolen goods were at his place of residence.  If he allowed drugs to take him down that dangerous path, he will be in prison for a long time.  It is unfortunate that a young driver has fallen so far because of an inability to stop using drugs.   Many drugs are extremely addictive, and they will ruin your body, mind, social life, and employment.  Using drugs a single time is dangerous and stupid. 

If you are unfortunately already using drugs, do yourself a favor and seek help. Quit using as soon as possible.  If you continue to use, it is likely that you will be in the legal system and prison, sooner rather than later . . . and that may be the least of your concerns.

 Facts:  Chris Cook, a second-year defensive player for the NFL's Minnesota Vikings, was recently arrested on charges of felony domestic assault by strangulation.  Mr. Cook allegedly went into an uncontrollable rage when he found his girlfriend of ten months speaking with her ex-boyfriend.

Mr. Cook first threw her onto a bed and strangled her with an open hand. She was able to free herself for a moment by pulling his dreadlocks, but he soon began to attack her again.  This time, he struck her with an open hand and sent her stumbling into a wall.  He then strangled her a second time.  

Eventually, the matter seems to have calmed down and a call was made to the police.  When police arrived, they noted that Cook’s girlfriend had a bloody nose, marks on her neck, and hemorrhaging in her eye, which usually indicates strangulation. This is not the first time that Mr. Cook’s rage has led to him making poor decisions.  Earlier this year, he was charged with brandishing a gun at a neighbor in Virginia.  Though he was not found guilty, the Vikings sat down with Mr. Cook to discuss the disturbing behavior and let him know that he needed to clean up his conduct.  He did not listen.

Because of his actions, Mr. Cook missed an important game against the Green Bay Packers, the defending Super Bowl Champions.  While the game was being played, he was sitting in county jail just a few blocks away from the stadium.  His problems are going to be reviewed by the NFL soon and a suspension is likely.

Law:  In 2005, Minnesota became one of only six states to enact legislation making domestic abuse by strangulation a felony.  The crime is punishable by up to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of $5,000.  

Analysis:  Mr. Cook’s story is not unique for young American males. Tempers sometimes flare; I've had to control my own at times, but we all have to learn to deal with our issues in more productive ways.  First, it is important to recognize that you may have a problem with your anger.  The signs can be as simple as losing your temper over small issues and can be as serious as involvement with gangs.  For a more detailed list, please visit: http://www.familyfirstaid.org/teen-anger.html

The above website also provides families with important advice to help others who might be dealing with rage.  These are important for you personally.  There is no shame in admitting that you struggle with anger and rage.  The shame comes from hiding from it and letting it control you.  There are a number of important resources available to you in your community.  At school, you can speak with a teacher, nurse, counselor, or administrator.  If you are not comfortable with any of those options, you may be able to find help at your church, local sports organization, or any health facility where you have a support network. The important step is to combat the anger and rage before it gets out of hand.

As for Mr. Cook, he has foolishly allowed his anger to become a major part of his life.  He had a chance to change his ways when he was found not guilty of brandishing a gun. Instead of seeking outside help in dealing with his anger, he chose to face his problem alone. His personal efforts, however, have not worked out.  Fortunately, it does not appear that his girlfriend sustained any serious, life-threatening injuries as a result of the attack.

A felony conviction makes it very hard to find a job. Mr. Cook is lucky that he is involved in one of the more forgiving professions, but very few professions want to be associated with someone who batters women.  His future with the club is now uncertain.  He missed the team’s biggest game of the season because he was locked up for the weekend.  His teammates cannot honestly rely on him right now and some teammates have probably lost all respect for him as a person. 

This type of reputation will be with him forever, all because he refused to seek help for a problem he knew he had.  Since this is a free country, his ex-girlfriend has the right to speak with her previous boyfriends.  For her trouble, she was almost strangled to death.  Once again, if you find yourself struggling with anger, please seek help before it gets this bad.  Do it for your sake and for the sake of your loved ones.

Facts:  Colson Baker, an up-and-coming rapper who calls himself Machine Gun Kelly, was arrested in August at a mall for disorderly conduct.  Mr. Baker had recently signed a record deal with Bad Boy Records, a well-known hip-hop label founded by Sean “P. Diddy” Combs.  To celebrate the signing, Mr. Baker organized a flash mob with his Twitter followers.  For those who don’t know, a flash mob is a group of people who suddenly appear in a public place for some specific purpose (usually nonpolitical). The gathering usually lasts for a very brief time, and then the people leave once the purpose is complete. Mr. Baker apparently polled his many followers and chose the SouthPark Mall in Strongsville, a suburb of Cleveland.  Mr. Baker and two other men were standing on tables in the mall food court yelling and celebrating in front of the very large group when the mall security asked them to stop.  When they refused, further inciting the flash mob, 

Mr. Baker and his associates were arrested.  The men were charged with disorderly conduct and released a few hours later.

Law:  In Ohio, and many other states, disorderly conduct includes any number of activities.  In Ohio, one can be guiltyof disorderly conduct by recklessly causing inconvenience, annoyance or alarm by:

• Fighting, threatening, or engaging in violent or turbulent behavior,

• Making unreasonable noise or communicating abusive language,

• Insulting or taunting another where it is likely to cause a violent response,

• Preventing or hindering movement of others, or

• Creating a physically offensive condition that presents the risk of physical harm

As you can see, the police have a lot of discretion under this statute.  It is typically used to control crowds that are out of control, as it allows the police to make an arrest to restore order.  Typically, it is charged as a low-level misdemeanor, and in Ohio, disorderly conduct carries a $150 fine.

Analysis:  Now, a $150 fine might not be enough to stop some people from being rowdy in public, but keep in mind that picking up various misdemeanors on your record can ultimately harm your chances of getting a job in the future. So be careful.

An even more important discussion here involves the smart use of social media and remaining well behaved in public.  In many cities, flash mobs are very popular and can draw very large numbers of people. Many are harmless, but some can get out of hand. Concerns over possible violence caused by flash mobs had led Cleveland’s city council to suggest laws that would have criminalized organizing some types of flash mobs. That particular law, however, was vetoed by Cleveland’s 

mayor earlier in the month, before Mr. Baker’s arrest. 

Because the law did not pass which would have made it a misdemeanor to simply put one of these flash mobs together, Mr. Baker was well within his rights to organize his fans to celebrate a great moment in his life. Mr. Baker used Twitter specifically to generate a flash mob, as a thank you to his loyal fans.  That’s ok.  In fact, that’s one reason why Twitter exists.  However, he did not remember to use the social network responsibly.  His actions went too far in this case, and things could have become dangerous.  

Although Mr. Baker was only charged with a low-level misdemeanor for disorderly conduct, generating a flash mob at a mall was irresponsible.  Various unsuspecting shoppers could have been caught in the mob.  Mobs sometimes become dangerous and begin looting local stores. The better decision would have been to organize in an open public place to celebrate his new record deal.  Instead, Mr. Baker chose an enclosed mall that could have been dangerous to the young or elderly.  

Further, Mr. Baker made the poor decision to deny authority once the mob started.  Being arrested and defying authority are sometimes viewed as trademarks of hip-hop culture, but this does not make it acceptable or a particularly good idea.  When he was asked to stop, his refusal got him arrested. 

This is a good opportunity for Mr. Baker to learn from his mistakes, as all of you should do in the event that you find yourself in some legal trouble.   He made some poor decisions along the way, but fortunately, most of it ended up being harmless fun.  While this time it only resulted in a small fine, the next time may spiral further out of control.  It’s not always the actions that define the man, it is how one learns from those actions that better define him.  As long as 

Mr. Baker learns from this situation and better controls himself next time, he will be better off because of it.

Facts: Wrestling superstar Matt Hardy has been arrested three times this month in three separate alcohol and drug related incidents.  In late August, Mr. Hardy drove his car into a tree.  The cops were able to determine that Mr. Hardy had been drinking that night, and he was charged with driving under the influence.

Three weeks later, the police were called to the road because a driver, later determined to be Mr. Hardy, was swerving and almost collided with other cars.  The cops then observed him strike a curb before they were able to finally stop his car.  He was again charged with driving under the influence. Finally, just this week, Mr. Hardy’s residence was raided by police.  The police discovered a number of different painkillers, anabolic steroids, and ecstasy.  

Law:  In North Carolina, a one year license suspension is imposed for the first time a person is caught driving under the influence, and another violation carries a four year license suspension.  If convicted on both counts of driving while intoxicated, Mr. Hardy can face up to two years in prison and up to $4,000 in fines.  

The penalty for ecstasy for a first time offender is 4-5 months in jail.  For steroids, the maximum jail time is 45 days.  The penalty is the same for unauthorized prescription drugs.  These penalties can obviously be affected by the number of pills Mr. Hardy was arrested with.

Analysis:  I’ve previously discussed how unbelievably dangerous it is to drink and drive.  To recap:  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced that 33,808 people died in automobile accidents in 2009.  Of those deaths, 10,839 were from alcohol-related accidents.  I also mentioned how drinking and driving homicides are now being tried as murder in some jurisdictions.  The point is: do not drink and drive.

Unfortunately, Mr. Hardy was mixed up in drugs more dangerous than alcohol.  Prescription drugs can cause deep addiction.  Pain killers affect how people perceive pleasure, and some people become heavily dependent on the pills for happiness.  It can quickly spiral out of control.  The body and mind will then need more pain killers to achieve a sensation of happiness. Ultimately, the user begins to need pills almost every day and might eventually overdose.  In fact, it happens a lot more than you would think.  One study found that in 2000, approximately 43% of emergency drug overdose admissions into hospitals were due to prescription drugs.  It’s incredibly dangerous to misuse prescription drugs. When taken recreationally, the danger grows dramatically.  

As it concerns ecstasy, according to one study, 43% of users become addicted and 60% experience withdrawal symptoms.  Ecstasy, or MDMA, can kill the user with one pill.  With that in mind, it would be extremely stupid to ever use ecstasy.

The fantastic part of this story is that Mr. Hardy’s girlfriend supposedly called the police to alert them to Mr. Hardy’s drug problems.  I do want to note that this report has not been verified to date, but I would like to hope that it is true.  As I’ve previously discussed, many users quickly spiral out of control.  They end up in automobile accidents, they hit their spouses, they overdose, and they engage in other dangerous and violent activities.  Many struggle to break the cycle of addiction because they fear going through withdrawal.  It’s understandable because physical addiction is scary and dangerous for users.  Typically, the only way to break the addiction is through medical help.  In this case, Mr. Hardy has already checked into a three-month rehabilitation program.  The treatment is going to be difficult for Mr. Hardy, as an addiction to alcohol and drugs does not immediately go away.

If Mr. Hardy had not been caught by the cops this week with these drugs, there is no doubt that he would still be using.  Fortunately, it sounds like his girlfriend called the police and allowed them to take the drugs away from Mr. Hardy.  Thankfully, this month-long series of drug-induced behavior has come to an end.  He almost injured drivers one day and was destroying his own body everyday.  Now he will spend 90 days learning how to live without alcohol and drugs.  

Hopefully, Mr. Hardy will be able to kick the habits for the rest of his life.  The odds are not on his side at this point. That’s the risk he took when he first chose to drink and use drugs.  The only thing you can do to avoid this nightmare of addiction is to never start using.

Facts:  Former major league slugger Manny Ramirez has again run afoul of the law.  His professional baseball career was in trouble due to a steroid-related 50 game suspension in 2009.  In 2010, he tried to get his career back on track, but another alleged positive test for steroids (along with a 100 game suspension) led to his quick retirement.

Now two years after baseball, Manny is in much more serious trouble.  Manny was arrested on Monday, September 12, 2011 for allegedly battering his wife, Juliana.  She claims that he struck her with an open hand, causing swelling on the left side of her face and leaving a contusion on the back of her head.  After the incident, Juliana immediately reported the domestic abuse to Florida authorities.  Manny was arrested soon after and has been ordered to have no contact with her.  

Law:  Florida Statute 741.28 defines domestic violence as "any assault, battery, sexual assault, or any criminal offense resulting in physical injury or death of one family or household member by another who is or was residing in the same single dwelling unit.”  Simply put, to prove Manny is guilty of domestic violence, the State of Florida must show that: (1) he assaulted or battered her (typically defined as an unwanted touching or hitting), (2) it caused injury, and (3) they were living together.  Manny has said that she hit her own head, but that’s something for the court to decide, not us.  As with most cases, the proof of the touching, or a showing of any injury at all, is good enough to show someone is guilty of the crime alleged.  It’s even more difficult to beat charges when the allegation is that a man hit a woman.

Analysis:  The truly remarkable part about this case is that Juliana was smart enough to report the incident to the appropriate authorities as soon as it happened.  Manny Ramirez is a former athlete with a history of steroid use.  The side effects of steroids are well-documented and usually include aggressive and abusive behavior.  It would have been easy for Juliana to accept the abuse and hope it never happened again.  Fortunately for Juliana, she made the right decision to report the incident.  Although it happens every day, domestic violence is considered one of the most underreported crimes.  Statistics show that 30% of Americans say they know a girlfriend or wife who has been abused in the previous year.  That is a truly large and depressing number.

Unfortunately, the first battery or assault rarely ends up being the last incident of abuse.  When the violence isn’t reported, it usually keeps happening until it is dealt with appropriately.  The best intervention is with a doctor or psychologist after you remove yourself from the dangerous situation.  The abuser likely has had other trouble with the law or is showing signs of uncontrollable behavior.  The best thing you can do for your relationship is to report the danger signs to appropriate authorities immediately before the situation turns violent.  

To really highlight this point, it is alleged that when Juliana made the call to the police, they asked if she was still in danger.  She told the police that Manny had stopped and had calmed down to the point where she could make the call.  I don’t mean to suggest that telling the abuser you have called the cops will end the abuse.  However, this shows that by taking the right steps, you are in a better position to resolve the issue as soon as possible to avoid harm.  You should not allow the situation to continue.  

In Juliana’s case, she may have waited too long and unfortunately ended up injured.  Thankfully, her physical injuries appear manageable, but the psychological effects of this type of abuse can last a lifetime.  By contacting the police, the courts have now ordered Manny to stay away from his wife. This is in the best interests of both parties until this situation resolves itself.  Hopefully, Manny will try to seek professional help to deal with his problems.  He cheated the game he loved, and his marriage is now in trouble.  If he truly wants to straighten his life out, he needs to start by changing his dangerous behavior.

If you suspect that your loved one is on the verge of abuse or has abused you, please visit the following website to find local help:  http://family.findlaw.com/domestic-violence/state-domestic-violence-forms.html. It may save your life.

Finally, if you believe you are at risk for abusing somebody you love, take matters into your own hands.  Having an abusive personality does not make you a bad person, but it means that you may need outside help to manage your anger.  Without someone else stepping in, you will likely be unable to control your anger, and this could cause you to hit another person or a loved one.  If this sounds like something you may struggle with, or have struggled with in the past, I urge you to visit the link above and find a local counselor to speak with before you ruin your life by assaulting and seriously injuring a loved one.

 

Facts:  Kiowa Gordon, who played werewolf Embry Call in the popular Twilight movie franchise, has run into a string of bad luck with the law.  In 2010, Mr. Gordon was stopped in Mesa, Arizona for possession and use of drug paraphernalia and giving liquor to a minor/underage consumption.  He apparently pled guilty but failed to appear at a required court hearing (possibly to formally enter the plea, or a similar procedure).  Due to his failure to appear, a warrant was issued for his arrest and additional charges were filed.

On August 8, 2011, Mr. Gordon was a passenger in a car driven by a friend in Arizona.  The two men were apparently headed to California to audition for a role in a new movie.  Unfortunately, the vehicle was stopped as part of some “routine vehicle inspection.”  The officers checked identification and discovered that Mr. Gordon had outstanding warrants in Arizona.  He was arrested and given a new court date.

Law:  The original drug charges in Arizona were very minor - at least when considering the maximum penalties. For possession of drug paraphernalia, it can be charged as a class 6 felony (which does not carry jail time) or a misdemeanor (which carries very light jail time).  For first time drug offenses, jail time is extremely unlikely; prosecutors and judges typically first place the offender into a rehabilitation program.  

The penalties for underage consumption and/or giving liquor to a minor vary depending on the charge.  I was able to find that since this older incident happened in an automobile, Mr. Gordon could have been charged with a DUI because of his age, and the penalties are harsh because of the dangers of drinking and driving.  Apparently, if convicted, there could be a mandatory license suspension for two years.  

The more recent charge - failure to appear - would be treated as a misdemeanor because he failed to appear for a previous misdemeanor.  The penalties for this charge include a maximum fine of $2,500 and a maximum jail sentence of 6 months.  It is important to remember that having charges like these added to the original charges will only upset the judge and likely lead to harsher penalties for the original crimes.

Analysis:  The consequences of your actions will not disappear simply because you choose to ignore them.  If you are mature enough to commit a crime, you have to be mature enough to deal with the results.  By neglecting your legal responsibilities, you create bigger, long-term problems for yourself.  These decisions are likely to have a great impact on your social future.

Simply making one poor decision does not define who you are.  There may be financial, economic, and social consequences because of your actions – I cannot deny that.  However, there can be positives taken from the situation as long as you are the bigger man and do the right thing immediately.  The legal system will run its course, and it will decide if you are innocent or guilty.  If you are found guilty, you have to pay for the consequences of your actions.  This includes paying back all required fines and showing up to all court appearances.

Mr. Gordon’s case is an example of what happens when someone does not cooperate with the system after getting into trouble.  It’s possible that he simply forgot to go to court.  It’s also possible that he did not think it was a big deal and thought that he could simply skip it.  Whatever the reason, he allowed a warrant to be issued for his arrest.  It caught up to him at the worst possible time – on his way to a job interview.  His particular story has a potentially happy ending: the movie studio allowed him to audition at a later date.  For most people, however, this type of second chance is very unlikely. The only way to avoid negative consequences is to take responsibility for your actions immediately and follow along with the process stated by the court.  

Law:  It is too early to say what charges could be brought, but the Los Angeles Times reported that charges could include: 

1) annoying or harassing phone calls via electronic device or the Internet whether or not a

conversation happens; 

2) delaying or obstructing a peace officer in the performance of their duties; and 3) a person who disrupts or blocks communication over a public safety radio frequency.  

(link: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2011/08/the-game-tweet-sender-could-case-

 numerous-criminal-charges.html).

            

In California, all three crimes are misdemeanors.  None of the crimes carries a penalty of more than $1,000 or more than a year in county jail.  

Analysis:  From a purely legal standpoint, it appears that nothing further will come of what happened.  The local authorities have accepted Mr. Taylor’s apologies, and they do not seem to want this case to go through the court system.

  

However, just because criminal charges will not be brought against Mr. Taylor does not mean important lessons can’t be learned.  We live in a society that expects us to use technology – both socially and for work.  I expect that almost every reader of this website uses at least Facebook, if not other networking sites, such as Twitter and LinkedIn.  In school you will probably be told to avoid these websites, but I don’t think that message helps very much.  Instead, try learning better ways to communicate responsibly with your peers.  

            We have entered an age where one single sentence can quickly affect an entire city.  Mr. Taylor clearly did not think about the power of a message telling half a million people to call the Compton Police.  He has a lot of influence over his readers, and of course, they did as he told them to do.  While you may not have 580,000 followers on your Twitter account, your message can still affect somebody.  If you say a kind word, you may improve somebody’s day.  If you say something nasty about another person, however, it may get you into a lot of trouble.

Mr. Taylor’s case is an excellent example of someone not truly understanding how technology might hurt people.  Growing up, I was always told to think before I spoke.  The same holds true today, even when you’re not talking to someone face-to-face.  It is important to do yourself and everybody around you a favor – think before you type.  Remember that everything that you do online will be there forever in some way. You can try to erase the mistakes you make, but you 

can’t make people forget about them or delete what they might have saved on their computers. Consider who is reading the message, how they will understand it, and how it will affect them. Don’t think that things done on the internet won’t have consequences in real life. 

Facts:  New York Rangers forward Sean Avery has made a living on the ice by upsetting opponents and occasionally dropping the gloves.  Unfortunately for Mr. Avery, he’s been accused of fighting in real life.  To make matters worse, he allegedly assaulted a police officer.

Facts:  Coheed and Cambria bassist Michael Todd was arrested on July 10, 2011 in Massachusetts on suspicion of armed robbery and possession of a controlled substance.  Mr. Todd apparently entered a pharmacy and approached the counter.  He claimed to have a bomb and demanded that he be given the prescription drug Oxycontin. 

Oxycontin is prescribed by doctors as a fever-reducing and pain relief drug.  It is a popular street drug because it is similar to heroin in its effects.  Like heroin, Oxycontin is extremely dangerous in the wrong hands because of its addictive nature.  In fact, when wrongfully used, it becomes far more addictive, because there is no physician to monitor proper use.  Oxycontin affects the body and brain and how it understands pleasure. Because of this, the body can become physically and mentally addicted.

Due to the extreme nature of his behavior, Mr. Todd likely has been addicted to Oxycontin for a long time.  The addiction became so strong that he apparently entered a pharmacy in broad daylight, announced that he had a bomb, and demanded narcotics.  His band is extremely popular and had a concert scheduled for the same evening.  The band had to find a replacement bassist for the show, and they have since been looking for a permanent replacement for Mr. Todd.

Law:  The charges filed against Mr. Todd are extremely serious and carry significant jail time.  In Massachusetts, armed robbery carries a minimum of five years in jail for a first conviction.  Even though Mr. Todd did not actually have a bomb, the mere fact that he threatened the pharmacy with a bomb is enough to classify the robbery as an armed robbery.  Further, Mr. Todd was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, which basically means having a drug without a prescription.  There are different penalties for possession, but typically, first offenses lead to light jail time, fines, and alternative programs aimed at stopping drug use.

Analysis:  This is a cautionary tale for a number of reasons.  To start, this is not necessarily unusual for somebody who is dependant on addictive drugs.  As I’ve mentioned, Oxycontin is incredibly addictive for all but particularly for those who wrongfully purchase and use it.  As the addiction grows stronger, the lengths to which an addict will go to obtain the drug will greatly increase.  Here, you have a successful musician who went to a pharmacy in the middle of the day and lied about having a bomb to get prescription drugs.  This is the behavior of a very sick individual who desperately needed medical help to overcome this addiction.  Unfortunately, the addiction became too strong, and Mr. Todd resorted to these actions just for more pills.

            Further, and this is a topic I’ve previously touched on, you are seeing the clear effects of an arrest on Mr. Todd’s employment.  Many children dream of one day being a musician, and Mr. Todd was touring the globe with a successful rock band.  He is now unemployed and has made it difficult for any band to even consider hiring him.  In addition to the jail time he likely faces, he has also shown that he cannot be trusted.  Every band member relies on the man next to him to do his part every night.  If the guy next to you is too concerned with getting drugs and lets it affect his work, then you simply have to replace him.  A band may be more forgiving of certain types of drug abuse, but most jobs you work at will simply not accept this type of behavior. 

            The only way to avoid addiction is to avoid drugs.  Unfortunately, it’s not a message that is particularly well received.  One study estimated that in 2006, 8.3% of people over the age of 12 had improperly taken Oxycontin in the previous month.  If you or someone you know is experimenting with Oxycontin, it is very important that you take immediate steps to fight the addiction.  If the Oxycontin use increases, the user may require medical intervention to successfully and safely stop using because of potential withdrawal.  Withdrawal symptoms may be severe and can include anxiety, nausea, insomnia, muscle pain, fevers, and other flu like symptoms. (source: http://www.cesar.umd.edu/cesar/drugs/oxycodone.asp) 

The following two links include a number of trustworthy solutions to addiction, including how and where to find the nearest treatment centers.  As this troubling story has shown, even successful musicians with all the money in the world can give in to dangerous addictions.  If you or someone you know needs help, make every arrangement to work on it immediately to avoid a fate similar to Mr. Todd.

http://www.michaelshouse.com/oxycontin-rehab/oxycontin-statistics-rehab/

http://www.opiates.com/oxycontin/get-off-oxycontin.html