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Jackson and the "Pill Mills"
Kevork Djansezian / AP Photo
Authorities investigating Michael Jackson’s death have extended their probe into Miami, reports The Daily Beast’s Gerald Posner, and a specific doctor practicing in the world’s prescription-drug capital.
The probe into Michael Jackson’s death has now crossed the country and reached Miami. Documents seized in 2003 from Neverland as part of the investigation into allegations of child abuse connected Jackson to Dr. Alimorad "Alex" Farshchian, the medical director of Miami Beach’s Center for Regenerative Medicine. The Daily Beast has confirmed that Los Angeles authorities examining the superstar’s death are now looking to see whether Farshchian and Jackson have had more recent contact than the 2002 broken foot for which Jackson initially sought treatment.
This is the state that has the decades long, well-deserved reputation as being the last refuge where ordinary, everyday people, not just celebrities and pop stars, can easily fill multiple prescriptions for opiates and other addictive pills.
In a July 21,2002, handwritten note, Dr. Farshchian writes to Jackson that he has sent a “package…it’s a 5-7 day program that offers you the solution. Buprinex is the potent narcotic I told you about last week, it is just like the D but better.” Buprinex is an injectable narcotic analgesic. Los Angeles investigators believe the “D” refers to Demerol, another narcotic that was found in Jackson’s house after his death. Chris Carter, Jackson’s then-head of security who went on to be arrested for bank robberies in Nevada, told investigators in 2004 that Farshchian tried to wean Jackson off his heavy Demerol use. Although the “D” could refer to Diprivan, the powerful anesthetic that might have played a fatal role in Jackson’s dosing, investigators have no link between Farshchian and that anesthetic.
Farshchian, a Caribbean-trained physician (he got his degree from St. Lucia’s Spartan Health Sciences University), describes himself on his Web site as limiting his practice to “non-surgical orthopedics and sports medicine.” One of his self-described specialties, as described on his Web site, is cell therapy, using the patient’s own cells in injections that accelerate the healing process, and which helps relieve pain from arthritis or injuries. He also works with human growth hormone.
In his 2002 note to Jackson, Farshchian said about the performer, “You’re the best, you’re an ICON, and you belong to the tops.” A Los Angeles County Sherriff’s deputy believes that Farshchian was “awestruck” by Jackson. A former Jackson employee told The Daily Beast that Jackson also met Farshchian at his house and the two became so friendly that they even talked about opening a children’s hospital in Miami’s Little Havana. They went so far as to come up with a name—The International Childrens Hospital—and to shop for a building before Jackson returned to California and abandoned the idea. According to what Carter told the investigators about their visits to Farshchian’s office, Jackson seemed alert on arrival but was visibly sedated when they left.
Dr. Farshchian, who lives in a $1.5 million waterfront home on Bay Harbor, did not return a call to his office, and a letter to his Facebook account, seeking a comment. Florida records show no prior discipline by state medical authorities and an electronic search of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties show no malpractice suits against him. But the Miami tie-in isn’t surprising. Being a Miami-based reporter, I felt it was only a matter of time until there was a South Florida medical connection to the Michael Jackson death probe. This is the state that has the decades long, well-deserved reputation as being the last refuge where ordinary, everyday people, not just celebrities and pop stars, can easily fill multiple prescriptions for opiates and other addictive pills.
The Farshchian-Jackson connection doesn’t involve these dispensing clinics, or “pill mills.” A celebrity like Jackson doesn’t need to stand in line to get his addictive drugs. There are all too many doctors willing to prescribe for him, thereby gaining access to his celebrity entourage. But it’s emblematic of a culture. Until Quaaludes (a powerful sedative that became a party drug in the late 70s) were made illegal in 1984, South Florida had more Quaalude clinics that the rest of the country combined.
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Benjamin Sarlin is a reporter for The Daily Beast. He previously covered New York City politics for The New York Sun and has worked for talkingpointsmemo.com.
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Gerald Posner is The Daily Beast's Chief Investigative Reporter. He's the award-winning author of 10 investigative nonfiction bestsellers, ranging from political assassinations, to Nazi war criminals, to 9/11, to terrorism. His latest book, Miami Babylon: Crime, Wealth and Power—A Dispatch from the Beach, was published in October. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife, the author Trisha Posner.
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Gerald Posner is The Daily Beast's Chief Investigative Reporter. He's the award-winning author of 10 investigative nonfiction bestsellers, ranging from political assassinations, to Nazi war criminals, to 9/11, to terrorism. His latest book, Miami Babylon: Crime, Wealth and Power—A Dispatch from the Beach, was published in October. He lives in Miami Beach with his wife, the author Trisha Posner.
Nobody knows what to believe anymore about this family. But the father keeps making news:
Joe: I'll take Jackson 3 on world tour
By BEN JACKSON
VIRGINIA WHEELER
and PETE SAMSON
MICHAEL'S father Joe is lining up the King of Pop's children for a world tour as The Jackson Three - despite family members accusing him of trying to "exploit them like Jacko".
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2531616.ece
However, I think Posner, Roger Friedman and TMZ are doing the best reporting. I pray that the above news report is a lie.
Mr Gerald Posner you are a very good investigative journalist, however you should stop with these articles on Michael Jackson, no one cares anymore!
This is quite a revelation for a reader not residing in Florida! What other states and countries does the ever expanding Michael Jackson death story go to next? Perhaps mapping this to Jackson's traveling would be very informative. The Farshchian-Jackson connection that Mr. Posner reveals to the reader is another piece of the puzzle being added. It's a matter of time that if there is sufficient evidence that Farshchian was an enabler, "speak to my attorney" will be his standard response.
I'm very disturbed by the information in this article. Why, oh why does the congress and the governor of this state allow these drug dealing clinics to operate, knowing full well what they are up to? WE NEED LEADERSHIP> If anything good comes out of this MJ investigation besides understanding who was MJ's friends and who were not, we also need to focus on the state of this nation's missuse of prescription drugs and the unethical medical practitioners dealing them.THe AMerican Medical Association should be hanging its head in shame. We've slammed the public schools long enough. At least teachers try to prevent and intervene for the good of the kids. What is the medical profession doing to police itself. I say Obama should lower the boom on this crap. Enough is enough. An addict is an addict and they are the victim of lazy or noncaring medical practioners. STOP THIS MADNESS. AND GET IT OFF THE INTERNET TOO.
Wow, this is amazing inside information; and the FDA nor the federal government does nothing to stop it? I live in New Jersey and even when I have been in pain, I have never, ever felt comfortable asking for a prescription for the lightest of prescription pain killers, let alone a drug as strong and as well known as oxycontin. If I ever tried, the doctors I see would escort me right out of the office with instructions to pck up a bottle of Advil at the pharmacy. I do not imply that you cannot get a doctor in this state to falsely prescribe such drugs (as I have heard people can do it) but the practice is far less obvious than this writer's description of situation in Florida.
I love posters who say Daily Beast should stop reporting on MJ because nobody cares. However, they care enough to read the article and post! LOL... what an oxymoron!
In any case, Gerald Posner is doing a great job and I hope he keeps at it. Yes, MJ was a drug addict but what appears to have killed him weren't the prescription drugs, it was the case of a doctor who gave him Diprivian and another doctor who administered it for home use, performed CPR incorrectly and didn't call 911 for a HALF AN HOUR! There is more to this story and manslaughter charges are not out of the question. So, the story has legs if there ever was one.
tmj injected himself thinking he could give the performance that he gave when he was 20 or 30 but now he is a fifty year old man he killed himself not deliberately he couldnt do the performances without being high on something thats why the family isnt saying much if its anyone who had a hand in it its the doctors who helped him do it
This week-end I was with four middle age friends at a dinner.One said they take morphine,another takes vicodin every day.Two others take Pecocet every day.Plus they had beer or wine.I guess all the old hippies are still enjoying life,but,this scares me.I am afraid to take any drugs.The feeling of being out of control would really scare me.How can doctors continue to give these drugs over and over and over?How can people think it is safe to take these drugs for along time?Magical thinking if they think it is safe.
I have no idea if this is true about Florida. Given the reputation of the writer though I would check the facts for myself before believing any of it. Posner has made a career of masquerading as an investigative journalist while reprinting handouts from the CIA & others.
An Artist
Wow - as a Florida resident I am shocked by this information about pills mills. I had no idea. One would think it would not be safe to drive in South Florida. Someone needs to do something to curb this and get people off the pain pills. Geez.
Poor Michael, God Bless him, and God help us learn from this sad ending to a talented artist.
" He who works with his hands is a laborer. He who works with his hands, and his head is a craftsman. He who works with his hands, and his head, and his heart, is An Artist. "
- St. Francis of Assisi
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t seems to me Dr Farshcian was one of the docs who was trying to help him. Do not trust TMZ, please look alittle further look at pictures 3,23,28 and 30 at http://photos.tmz.com/galleries/michael_jackson_drug_pictures_2#46729
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