DOCSLIB.ORG

Opioid Crisis

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Opioid Crisis [FREE] Serving Philipstown and Beacon SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2017 161 MAIN ST., COLD SPRING, N.Y. | highlandscurrent.com Part 1: We Know There’s a Problem. What Can Be Done About It? hat’s the question The Current hoped and suicide. They kill more Americans each year to answer for the Highlands. Last year, than die in auto crashes or gun violence. They Tdrug overdoses – the most visible marker are killing people faster than H.I.V. ever did. And of the epidemic – killed 64,000 Americans, the addition of fentanyl to the mix with heroin a 22 percent increase over the year before. has made the epidemic even deadlier. About 15,400 of those deaths involved heroin, When fentanyl showed up in the Hud- 20,000 involved fentanyl (a synthetic that is 50 son Valley in late 2013, there were 68 heroin to 100 times more powerful than morphine) overdoses in Poughkeepsie in less than two and 14,400 involved prescription painkillers, months. Fentanyl is widely used in medicine; according to preliminary federal data. much of what is found on the street is manu- On July 31 a commission assembled by Presi- factured in illicit labs in China and Mexico. dent Donald Trump to address the crisis made an Why wait for a poppy to grow? A lethal dose urgent recommendation that he declare a na- At a vigil held in Cold Spring on Aug. 31 to raise aware- is about 2 milligrams, which looks like a few tional emergency, noting that the overdose death ness of overdose deaths, a participant adds Matt Her- grains of salt. It is so potent that police officers rate in the U.S. has reached the equivalent of 142 ring's name to painted rocks. Herring, 24, of Wappingers can be sickened during drug busts. And deal- people per day. Falls, died on Aug. 25. Photo by Ross Corsair ers are now importing the even more deadly The problem is not far away. Dutchess and carfentanil, an elephant tranquilizer that is Putnam counties together have an overdose 10,000 times more powerful than morphine, serve International Overdose Awareness Day to mix with heroin. Chinese suppliers sell 2 death, on average, about every four days. State- and call for more resources to fight the ex- wide, about seven people die each day. From pounds of the drug – enough for 50 million panding shadows. We saw it in graffiti near the doses – for about $2,750. 2013 to 2015, Dutchess had the second highest Metro-North station: “Cold Spring Kills Kids & rate of overdose deaths per capita in the state Breaks Hearts.” According to a federal report released last (trailing nearby Sullivan County); Putnam was month, nearly 600,000 teenagers and adults in in the middle of the pack, but the rates in both Overdoses have become the leading cause of the U.S. are addicted to heroin, and more than counties were higher than those of death for Americans under 50, outpacing assault 2 million to prescription painkillers. New York City or the state. Doctors in Putnam County write On Aug. 18, Forrest Ryzy-Ryski, Originally published in The Current in September and 50,000 prescriptions annually for opi- a 2011 graduate of Haldane High October 2017, this series has four parts. oids; in Dutchess, it’s 165,000, both at per-capita rates higher than New School in Cold Spring and a talented In Part 1, reporters Michael Turton and Liz Schevtchuk Arm- artist, writer and martial arts fighter, York City or the state at large. Most strong spoke with the parents of young men who struggled with states, including New York, have became the latest casualty when he opioid addiction. One died, one survived, but they faced many of died of a heroin overdose in Geor- cracked down on doctors who over- the same obstacles in getting treatment. We asked the parents to prescribe, but that forces many ad- gia, where he was attending Ken- share their experiences, hoping it would provide a road map. nesaw State University. He was 23. dicts to turn to street drugs, whose In Part 2, we examined the role of law enforcement and the potency is harder to measure. A memorial service was held courts in battling the epidemic. Turton looked at the work of the To find out more about the fight in Garrison on Sept. 10. The day Putnam County Drug Treatment Court, while Jeff Simms spent after his death, on Facebook, his against opioid addiction in the time with Beacon and Dutchess County police officers who are at Highlands, The Current created grandmother posted an anguished the front lines. plea: “I wish I could go with him an enterprise journalism fund with and take care of him, tell him that In Part 3, we explained treatment options. Brian PJ Cronin initial contributions from members I love him and try to understand profiled the Dutchess County Stabilization Center, an innovative of our board of directors. Their sup- the big why.” In frustration, she first stop for those in crisis, while Anita Peltonen and Armstrong port allowed our writers, photogra- warned others who, perhaps, think visited treatment centers at Graymoor in Garrison, Arms Acres in phers and designers — Chip Rowe, they do not need help: “There is Carmel and CoveCare Center (formerly Putnam Family & Com- Scott Veale, Michael Turton, Liz no answer, you also will die, it is a munity Services) in Carmel. Schevtchuk Armstrong, Jeff Simms, Anita Peltonen, Kate Vikstrom, Lynn matter of time. Your grandmother Finally, in Part 4, we shared the thoughts of specialists, coun- will shed tears to no end, too.” selors, doctors and those struggling with addiction about what Carano, Ross Corsair and Brian PJ they feel should take priority in addressing the problem. Cronin — to spend more time on We saw some of that pain on this project than they would for a Aug. 31 at the Cold Spring band- We appreciate your feedback about the series and thoughts typical news story. We hope to ad- stand, when those struggling with about how best to address the epidemic. Email editor@highland- dress other national issues of local addiction and their families and scurrent.com. importance in the near future. supporters came together to ob- 2 SEPTEMBER - OCTOBER, 2017 The Highlands Current highlandscurrent.com of the user in the hope that it is Sasha’s Story a phase. “Those were the two “So much pain; so many camps,” Melanie says. “You were questions” either tough love or an enabler.” Help hard to come by By Michael Turton Denial was not an issue in the lexander “Sasha” Matero, Matero household. of Garrison, died in 2014 of “We tried to attack it head on Aan overdose after struggling as best we could, given the limited with an opioid addiction since knowledge we had and the outside before he graduated from Haldane help we could find,” Jim says. A lethal dose of the synthetic opioid High School in 2007. He was bur- fentanyl. DEA The first time they found Sasha ied on what would have been his badly impaired, they knew it was 25th birthday. The Materos, who own Jaymark not from smoking a little marijuana. Jewelers on Route 9, had medical Jim and Melanie Matero ad- But it wasn’t heroin, either. They opted Sasha from Russia in 1999, insurance that entitled their son to took him to the emergency room, 30 days of rehab. when he was 9. They remember where Melanie said they were told: their son as a curious, intelligent “That’s nothing that needs detox. Four days after he was admit- and personable young man with a Sasha Matero There’s no need to admit him. You ted, they say the insurer told them smile that lit up a room. “He really can take him home.” that Sasha would be released in had a joie de vivre,” Melanie says. what quickly became an addiction. two days. “How can that can be?” “He lost his entire social group Jim argued, telling the doctors, “No! Jim recalls asking. The response: In 2005, when he was a sopho- because he could no longer play Something is seriously wrong here.” more in high school, Sasha had “It’s his first time. That’s all he soccer,” she said. “He lost his iden- The next afternoon, they took surgery to repair his ACL, a knee liga- needs.” tity and the painkillers helped him Sasha to their family doctor. Mela- ment, which he had injured in an ac- The six-day stint was the only time deal with that.” nie believes the ER visit had fright- cident. During his recovery, he took during Sasha’s illness that their insur- ened her son. “He let the doctor opioid painkillers. “It wasn’t a big The Materos think the painkillers ance covered the cost of rehab. were overprescribed initially but tell us that he thought he had topic of conversation at the time,’’ After paying for another week say other factors quickly followed. a drug problem,” she said. The Jim recalls. “The doctor prescribed on their own, they appealed the “I’m sure he’d go to a party and problem was the opioid pain pills. it. You have to trust the doctor.” insurance company’s decision take whatever kids had, take a lot The Materos asked how to get to the New York State attorney Becoming addicted of Dimetapp [cough syrup], smoke Sasha admitted to a residential general. The AG’s office sided with The pills “flipped the switch,” Mela- some pot, as long as it killed the drug treatment program, but were the insurer.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Dalhart Federal
    Mobile Banking DALHARTSAVINGS & LOAN ASSOCIATION,FEDERAL SSB Family Financial Centers: Fifth & Denrock, Dalhart (806) 249-8561 • Dumas Branch: Seventh & Bliss, Dumas (806) 935-7161 Vol. 118, No. 61 • 10 pages Tuesday, July 31, 2018 Serving Dallam and Hartley Counties Hospital district Junior Rodeo gives board approves youngsters a challenge sketchy budget Julie A. FerrAro Dalhart Texan During the Dallam-Hartley Counties Hospital Dis- trict Board of Directors meeting July 26, board mem- ber Dwight Gray summed up his thoughts in one sen- tence. “We’re being asked to approve a budget we don’t know much about,” he said. Gray pointed out how, on the Capital Budget Re- quest sheet for fiscal year 2019, a total of $1,876,000 in equipment is listed. “We don’t have the money,” he said. The operating budget for fiscal year 2019 shows a deficit of $457,000, as well. Leroy Schaffner, chief executive officer for the dis- trict, and Joe Branick, chief financial officer, explained the documents presented to the board members. The equipment listed on the capital budget, for in- stance, was prioritized ac- cording to need, patient safety and the require- ment to meet regulations being the most vital. Of the nearly $1.9 million on that list, Schaffner ac- knowledged only about $700,000 was needed in the immediate future. “All the department managers know they aren’t getting anything unless we have the mon- ey,” Schaffner said. Branick was optimis- tic that the 2019 budget Joe Branick, chief finan- might end up being bal- cial officer, explains the budget during the Dallam- anced, after the new CEO, Hartley County Hospital Loree Tamayo, takes over District Board of Directors and changes are made.
    [Show full text]
  • San Quentin News
    San Quentin News WRITTEN BY THE INCARCERATED-ADVANCING SOCIAL JUSTICE VOL. 2020 NO. 45 September/October 2020 Edition 129 SAN QUENTIN, CALIFORNIA 94964 www.sanquentinnews.com POPULATION 3,010 The #STOPSANQUENTINOUTBREAK coalition break in a podcast interview with of Re:Store justice, a justice advo- Brie Williams of the Geriatrics cacy organization. and Palliative (GeriPal) Care blog. Abercrombie is a singer/song- “Physical distancing is impos- writer whose music can be heard sible in prison and jail,” said Khan on the Fox Sports documentary Q- on the broadcast. “They’re not Ball and the San Quentin podcast built for it. Walkways three feet Ear Hustle. wide. Bunk beds where you can In July the #STOPSANQUEN- feel all your neighbors’ breath TINOUTBREAK coalition move- ment reached the gates of the prison. Chants of “Free Them All” and banners calling for ac- “There must be space tion waved in the background. The coalition held a press conference in society for the that included these elected offi- humanity of every cials: State Sen. Scott Wiener, D- San Francisco; Assemblymembers single person”. Marc Levine, D-San Rafael; and Ash Kalra, D-San Jose. Some of the officials called for “To compound the issue, prison- a continued monitoring of the ers are afraid that if they get sick COVID-19 outbreak inside Cali- they will be put in The Hole (soli- fornia prisons. “We must sustain tary confinement). So they don’t attention here at San Quentin and admit when they’re sick,” Khan at every facility where people are and Abercrombie added. “The ma- sentenced for time and locked up jor response should be decarcera- across the state of California,” tion.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientology's Legal System
    MARBURG JOURNAL OF RELIGION, Vol. 21, No. 1 (2019) 1 Scientology’s Legal System Phil Lord LL.B. (McGill, Dean's List), B.C.L. (McGill, Dean's List), ACIArb. This paper provides an overview of the legal system of the religion of Scientology. To the members of the religion, this legal system supersedes and fully displaces the mainstream legal system. Scientology’s legal system is self-contained and independent, with rules, enforcement mechanisms, and correctional facilities. The overview provided in this paper will be useful to courts and to further research in the nascent yet vital field of Scientological legal research. The contents are as follows: INTRODUCTION; I. SOURCING; II. WITHIN AND WITHOUT; III. RULES; IV. ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS; V. CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; CONCLUSION. MARBURG JOURNAL OF RELIGION, Vol. 21, No. 1 (2019) 2 INTRODUCTION This paper provides a broad overview of the legal system of the religion of Scientology.1 No legal scholar has yet provided such an overview. This fact is somewhat perplexing, as the religion was founded some seventy years ago.2 More broadly, the literature on Scientology is far sparser than that on other recently founded religions such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints3 (two religions which count far more adherents than 1 I am grateful to Prof. Mark Antaki, Alec Sader and Olivier Lirette for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts. In conducting research for this paper, I have had the opportunity to interact with several Scientologists. The Scientologists who I met at the Montreal and Los Angeles churches have all been kind and helpful.
    [Show full text]
  • Executive Report on Parole Review Decisions Decisions
    EXECUTIVE REPORT ON PAROLE REVIEW DECISIONS DECISIONS FOR THE PERIOD January 3, 2011 through December 31, 2011 BY GOVERNOR EDMUND G. BROWN JR. -- OFFICE OF THE GOVE RNO R MESSAGE FROM THE GOVERNOR CONCERNING PAROLE REVIEW DECISIONS To the Members of the Senate and Assembly of the State of California: In accordance with Article V, section 8(b) of the California Constitution, I submit this report on the actions I have taken on decisions by the Board of Parole Hearings in 2011. Of these decisions, I reversed 71 and modified 1. I have included copies of each of these actions. Sincerely, GOVERNOR EDMUN D G. BROWN JR • SACRAMENTO , CALI F ORN I A 95814 • (9 16) 445,2841 INDETERMINATE SENTENCE PAROLE RELEASE REVIEW (Penal Code Section 3041.2) DERRICK TAYLOR, E-66425 SECOND-DEGREE MURDER AFFIRM: MODIFY: REVERSE: x STATEMENT OF FACTS AND REASONS: Crime According to the probation report, on November 10, 1989, Derrick Taylor and Charles Batiste nlet at a dairy located near Beatrix Sullivan's residence. They intended to rob her. The two men gained entry to the property through an alley at the rear of the residence. They entered a detached guestroom located in the back oflhe house, looking [or "something to take." Mr. Batiste covered the window in the guestroom with an afghan-type blanket and fell asleep. When he awoke in the early morning hours, Mr. Taylor was no longer present. Mr. Taylor reported that Ms. Sullivan saw him, so he leaped over the fence, but retumed a short lime later. After he retumed, he entered Ms.
    [Show full text]
  • Human Trafficking and the Church of Scientology: Why the Legislature Should Clarify and Expand the Tvpa and the Impact It Would Have on the Church
    HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND THE CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY: WHY THE LEGISLATURE SHOULD CLARIFY AND EXPAND THE TVPA AND THE IMPACT IT WOULD HAVE ON THE CHURCH John S. Yi1 I. INTRODUCTION “Practice what you preach.” The Church of Scientology (herein- after “Church”) claims to be a champion of the Universal Declara- tion of Human Rights2 for more than fifty years by sponsoring “the largest non-governmental information campaign to make the Uni- versal Declaration of Human Rights known the world over.”3 While the Church attempts to spread awareness of the Universal Decla- ration of Human Rights across the world,4 allegations swirl of hu- man rights violations being committed by the Church,5 causing one 1. Associate New Developments Editor, Rutgers Journal of Law and Reli- gion; J.D. Candidate May 2014, Rutgers School of Law – Camden. 2. THE UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS, http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/history.shtml (last visited Dec. 12, 2012). The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December of 1948, guaranteeing the rights of humans all over as a response to the atrocities stemming from World War II. Id. 3. SCIENTOLOGY, http://www.scientology.org/activity/human-rights/human- rights.html?video=hr_intro (last visited Dec. 12, 2012). 4. Id. The Church distributes human rights materials to over eighty-two nations. Id. 5. LISA MCPHERSON, http://www.lisamcpherson.org/ (last visited Dec. 12, 2012). Lisa McPherson was admitted to a hospital on November 18, 1995 for psy- chological care, but was checked out by members of the Church.
    [Show full text]
  • Disc Golf Rules
    Table of Contents 800 Introduction 804 The Throw 800.01 Description of the Game 804.01 Excessive Time 800.02 Definitions 804.02 Mandatories 800.03 Conversions 804.03 Interference 800.04 Links 804.04 Out-of-Bounds 804.05 Lost Disc 801 General 804.06 Provisional Throws 801.01 Application of the Rules 801.02 Discs Used in Play 805 Tournament Procedures 801.03 Artificial Devices 805.01 Appeals 801.04 Courtesy 805.02 Scoring 801.05 Order of Play 805.03 Special Conditions 801.06 Practice Throws 806 Discretionary Rules 802 Basic Rules of Play 802.01 Teeing Off 807 Experimental Rules 802.02 Establishing Position 802.03 Marking the Lie PDGA Q&A 802.04 Throwing from a Stance 802.05 Holing Out 803 The Lie 803.01 Obstacles and Relief 803.02 Optional Relief and Optional Re-Throw 803.03 Misplay © Copyright 2013 The Professional Disc Golf Association (PDGA) Professional Disc Golf Association Revised January 1, 2013 PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf 800. Introduction 800.01 Description of the Game 800.02 Definitions The object of the game of disc golf is to Approximate Lie A lie established by the traverse a course from beginning to end in player's group in order to resume play from a the fewest throws of the disc. The competitor lie which is not marked. who plays the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest throws plus penalty throws is the Approximate Position A position winner. established by the player's group that is as close as possible to the original position of Play on each hole begins at the teeing area and the disc.
    [Show full text]
  • Have You Lived Before This Life?
    Have You Lived Before This Life? By L. Ron Hubbard First release March 1960 HAVE YOU LIVED BEFORE THIS LIFE 2 L. RON HUBBARD This original book written by L. Ron Hubbard is brought to you by the Ron's Org Grenchen, Switzerland A great deal of research has been devoted to ensure hav- ing the pure and original technology and materials we knew were working. Thanks to the tremendous training of Max and Erica Hauri – both Class XII Auditors and C/Ses – the Ron's Org Grenchen applies L. Ron Hubbard's teachings as he taught us in his writings and lectures when he was around. The Ron's Org trains people on the original materials and they standardly audit as L. Ron Hubbard taught it; proof of it being the raving successes of all the publics and the expansion throughout the world. Auditors are trained by the best standards possible and always brought back to L. Ron Hubbard's materials for any question. If you are looking for the true results this wonderful technology can deliver, then you will be at the right place in the Ron's Org Grenchen no matter what your situation is. Max Hauri, C.O. of the Ron's Org Grenchen Mazzinistrasse 7, CH-2540 Grenchen +41 32 513 72 20 www.ronsorg.ch HAVE YOU LIVED BEFORE THIS LIFE 3 L. RON HUBBARD IMPORTANT NOTE In studying be very, very certain you never go past a word you do not fully understand. The only reason a person gives up a study or becomes confused or unable to learn is that he or she has gone past a word or phrase that was not understood.
    [Show full text]
  • Official Rules & Regulations of Disc Golf
    PDGA Official Rules of Disc Golf Revised January 1, 2013 PROFESSIONAL DISC GOLF ASSOCIATION Table of Contents 800 Introduction 800.01 Description of the Game 800.02 Definitions 800.03 Conversions 800.04 Links 801 General 801.01 Application of the Rules 801.02 Discs Used in Play 801.03 Artificial Devices 801.04 Courtesy 801.05 Order of Play 801.06 Practice Throws 802 Basic Rules of Play 802.01 Teeing Off 802.02 Establishing Position 802.03 Marking the Lie 802.04 Throwing from a Stance 802.05 Holing Out 803 The Lie 803.01 Obstacles and Relief 803.02 Optional Relief and Optional Re-throw 803.03 Misplay 804 The Throw 804.01 Excessive Time 804.02 Mandatories 804.03 Interference 804.04 Out-of-Bounds 804.05 Lost Disc 804.06 Provisional Throws 805 Tournament Procedures 805.01 Appeals 805.02 Scoring 805.03 Special Conditions 806 Discretionary Rules 807 Experimental Rules 808 Rules Q & A 800 Introduction 800.01 Description of the Game The object of the game of disc golf is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest throws of the disc. The competitor who plays the stipulated round or rounds in the fewest throws plus penalty throws is the winner. Play on each hole begins at the teeing area and ends at the target. After the player has thrown from the tee, each successive throw is made from where the previous throw came to rest. On completing a hole, the player proceeds to the teeing area of the next hole, until all holes have been played.
    [Show full text]
  • A Meta-Analysis on Driver Safety and Cannabis Impairment
    A Meta-Analysis On Driver Safety and Cannabis Impairment A Major Qualifying Project Report Submitted to the Faculty Of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Bachelors of Science By: Wesley Fischer, ME ___________________________________ Nathaniel Lambert, MGE _____________________________________ Robert Rosen, MA _______________________________________ Date: March 1, 2019 Advised by: Jianyu Liang, Dimitrios Koutmos, and Buddika Peiris This report represents the work of WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review. For more information about the projects program at WPI, please see http://www.wpi.edu/academics/ugradstudies/project-learning.html Abstract: The goal of this project is to determine a procedure to accurately detect an impaired driver influenced by cannabis. Through simulated data constructed from parameters of national cannabis studies, we can measure the accuracy of suggested testing methods for Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). Eventually, legislation will need to decide on guidelines and laws for LEOs to abide by when identifying drivers under the influence of cannabis, and with our recommendations, Massachusetts legislation will have a meta-analysis to assist with their decisions. 2 Table of contents: ABSTRACT: ..............................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Bohemian Rhapsody
    8 Bohemian Rhapsody aul Haggis and Deborah Rennard married in 1997, soon after Paul’s divorce from Diane became nal. Paul was still seeking joint custody of his three daughters. Without Pconsulting him, Diane had taken Lauren and Katy out of the Delphi Academy, apparently intending to enroll them in public school. Paul and Diane were ordered by the court to undergo psychiatric evaluation, a procedure that Scientology abhors. In December 1998, the court surprised everyone by awarding Paul full custody of his daughters. According to court records, the ruling followed the discovery that the girls were not enrolled in school at all. The girls were stunned. They had watched the hostilities through Diane’s eyes. No one had prepared them for the possibility that they might be taken from her—until then, it had been the three girls and their mother against the world. The girls thought the decision was unbalanced and unfairly inuenced by the fact that their father had more money. Alissa vowed she would never speak to him again. Haggis was also caught short by the court’s decision. In addition to the year-old son, James, he had with Deborah, he suddenly had two teenage daughters on his hands as well. (Alissa was twenty-one at the time, and lived on her own.) The girls felt uprooted and they missed the emotional support of their mother. They didn’t resent Deborah; actually, they appreciated her advocacy and the way she balanced out Paul. Still, it was a difficult adjustment for everyone. Paul put the girls in a private school, but that lasted only six months.
    [Show full text]
  • CAUSE NO. C2013-1082B MONIQUE RATHI3UN Plaintiff, V. DAVID
    CAUSE NO. C2013-1082B MONIQUE RATHI3UN Plaintiff, V. DAVID MISCAVIGE, RELIGIOUS TECHNOLOGY CENTER, CHURCH OF SCIENTOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, STEVEN GREGORY SLOAT, and MONTY DRAKE Defendants DECLARATION OF MICHAEL RINDER My name is Michael Rinder, I am over the age of 21, and I have personal knowledge of the facts stated herein, which I declare are true and correct subject to the penalty for perjury. 1. I was raised in a Scientology family from the age of six. I joined church staff in April 1973 at the age of eighteen and remained a full time employee until June 2007. 2. For most of the time between 1982 and 2007 I was a senior official in the Church of Scientology International (CSI), the so-called mother church of Scientology. I was on the Board of Directors of CSI from its inception in 1982 until, I left in 2007. 3. During the majority of the time between 1982 and 2007 I was the most senior official within CSI responsible for "external affairs", meaning government and media relations, investigations and intelligence operations, as well as all litigation and contract matters. This function is performed by the Office of Special Affairs ("OSA") and I was the head of OSA for most of this time. 4. I have read Defendant Church of Scientology International's "Anti-SLAPP Motion to Dismiss Plaintiff's First Amended Petition" and attached affidavits of Allan Cartwright, David Lubow, John Allender, Richard Hirst, Monty Drake and Steven Sloat and I have also read Defendants Miscavige and .RTC Special Appearances and requests for dismissal alleging this court does not have jurisdiction.
    [Show full text]
  • Scientology's Legal System
    MARBURG JOURNAL OF RELIGION, Vol. 21, No. 1 (2019) 1 Scientology’s Legal System Phil Lord LL.B. (McGill, Dean's List), B.C.L. (McGill, Dean's List), ACIArb. This paper provides an overview of the legal system of the religion of Scientology. To the members of the religion, this legal system supersedes and fully displaces the mainstream legal system. Scientology’s legal system is self-contained and independent, with rules, enforcement mechanisms, and correctional facilities. The overview provided in this paper will be useful to courts and to further research in the nascent yet vital field of Scientological legal research. The contents are as follows: INTRODUCTION; I. SOURCING; II. WITHIN AND WITHOUT; III. RULES; IV. ENFORCEMENT MECHANISMS; V. CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES; CONCLUSION. MARBURG JOURNAL OF RELIGION, Vol. 21, No. 1 (2019) 2 INTRODUCTION This paper provides a broad overview of the legal system of the religion of Scientology.1 No legal scholar has yet provided such an overview. This fact is somewhat perplexing, as the religion was founded some seventy years ago.2 More broadly, the literature on Scientology is far sparser than that on other recently founded religions such as Jehovah’s Witnesses and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints3 (two religions which count far more adherents than 1 I am grateful to Prof. Mark Antaki, Alec Sader and Olivier Lirette for their thoughtful comments on earlier drafts. In conducting research for this paper, I have had the opportunity to interact with several Scientologists. The Scientologists who I met at the Montreal and Los Angeles churches have all been kind and helpful.
    [Show full text]