https://www.bruzzolaw.com/blog/tags/vicodin/ Tue, 15 Oct 2024 00:45:39 GMT en-us https://www.bruzzolaw.com/blog/recent-drug-trends-in-orange-county/ https://www.bruzzolaw.com/blog/recent-drug-trends-in-orange-county/ Fri, 14 May 2010 04:01:00 GMT Recent shifts in drug choice have officials alarmed. In South Orange County, a place comprised of middle to upper class neighborhoods, prescription drug users are now turning to heroin because of its lower costs compared to Vicodin and Oxycotin. However, most users are resorting to smoking heroin instead of injecting it to avoid the stigma…

]]> Recent shifts in drug choice have officials alarmed. In South Orange County, a place comprised of middle to upper class neighborhoods, prescription drug users are now turning to heroin because of its lower costs compared to Vicodin and Oxycotin. However, most users are resorting to smoking heroin instead of injecting it to avoid the stigma of being a “junkie.” Cocaine users are also searching for cheaper alternatives and thus turning to methamphetamine.

Orange County and surrounding counties see a higher rate of drugs and lower prices compared to the rest of the country due to their proximity to Mexico. Drugs often pass through this area before being distributed across the country. According to a 2010 National Drug Threat Assessment, heroin production in Mexico which was headed for the U.S. increased from 17 tons in 2007 to 38 tons in 2008—an over two-fold increase. And despite violent wars between drug cartels in Mexico, the availability of most drugs continues to increase. See Health and Safety Code Sections 11377, 11378, 11350, 11351.

]]> https://www.bruzzolaw.com/blog/text-messaging-and-driving-recklessly-deadly-combination/ https://www.bruzzolaw.com/blog/text-messaging-and-driving-recklessly-deadly-combination/ Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:56:00 GMT A jury has convicted Jeffrey Woods of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated PC 191.5 (a) for the incident occurring in August of 2007. The truck Woods was driving crashed into the side walk and hit a 14-year old on his bike. Woods was on Vicodin and Xanax while also text messaging and driving…

]]> A jury has convicted Jeffrey Woods of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence while intoxicated PC 191.5 (a) for the incident occurring in August of 2007. The truck Woods was driving crashed into the side walk and hit a 14-year old on his bike. Woods was on Vicodin and Xanax while also text messaging and driving recklessly, a deadly combination. The defense argued that Woods has epilepsy and that it was a seizure that made him lose control of the vehicle. The argument then becomes whether it was the drugs and multitasking during driving that caused the accident or if it was a seizure. According to the Criminal Jury instructions the prosecutor must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant is guilty. Meanwhile, the defense presents an alternative reasonable conclusion that points to the innocence of the defendant. The O.C. Register article on the case quoted a juror who explained that “there were some inconsistencies with the amount of seizures and whether they did happen or didn’t happen”. The evidence presented by the defense was not enough to sway the jury to another reasonable explanation for what happened.

Mr. Woods faces up to 10 years in prison for this offense.

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