Doctor raises awareness of seriousness of opioid epidemic after doctor’s office break-in

Saint Anthony – After ransacking his office, a San Antonio chiropodist raises awareness of the seriousness of the opioid epidemic.

Dr. Morris Stribling has learned that his business, the San Antonio Podiatry Center, was robbed after receiving a call from his alarm company. The theft took place around 7:30 a.m. on September 24.

“According to our surveillance video, a black car pulled up and turned around the corner where a woman is seen covering the license plate number,” Stribling said. “Then the woman and the man got out, but the man came out with a crowbar and barged in through the front door and the door that went into the pharmacy.

Video footage also shows this suspect grabbing a trash can and picking up a variety of drugs inside.

“Some of them were controlled substances, but none of them were level one or two because we keep them locked up,” Stribling said. “He also stole things that really can’t get you high, so he’s probably going to throw them in the trash, but he just stole a variety of things.”

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This theft was a major violation for Stribling and his company.

“A lot of our patients are elderly and have special needs, and we are proud to serve this population, so for someone to come in and do that was an insult to what we are trying to do on a daily basis,” a- he declared.

Since the break-in, Stribling has added a physical security team to his property to monitor things 24/7. He urges other pharmacies to lock down all controlled substances, whatever they are.

The suspects fled with at least $ 1,000 worth of drugs. Stribling said that whether they plan to use or sell the stolen drugs, the theft highlights the opioid crisis plaguing the country.

“I see a lot of patients struggling with drug addiction,” he said. “Some are linked to the economy, and some to homelessness, so there are a lot of issues. We can’t just say it like someone just wants to get high. The other side is people want to steal from you just to make money.

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Steven Murphy, CEO of Positive Recovery, agrees. His business is an intensive outpatient recovery program that serves people in recovery.

“They just find this chemical that perfectly matches their genetics and metabolism, and they become addicted and don’t realize it,” Murphy said. “After they’ve been using it for two to three, four, five years, and once they’ve stimulated their brains with dopamine to the same degree as with addiction, it’s hard to stop. You can’t stop thinking about it.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2020, 69,710 opioid-related deaths were reported. This is nearly 20,000 more than in 2019, which had 50,042 deaths.

“I think it might even be higher since COVID because isolation from society, even during telehealth that we do, but isolation is a problem for drug addicts,” Murphy said.

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He added that another problem is that the conversation about opioid addiction is not being discussed the way it should be.

“I don’t think he’s being treated appropriately,” Murphy said. “What we’re doing is harm reduction, which is good. But some doctors are not sufficiently trained and some do not really treat it. There are a few places that do this well with a 30 day treatment schedule.

Murphy said it was crucial for someone to go through a detox process.

“It’s basically (like) the flu from hell,” Murphy said. “A runny nose, chills, fever, diarrhea, vomiting, sore, runny eyes – it’s terrible. In fact, this is why most people don’t get sober because they have to go through this three to ten day process.

Murphy said recovery is a holistic approach.

“You can remove this chemical from your system,” he said. “But you have to learn a whole new way of life without doing it again. We are five-part beings. We are physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual and social.

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Like the crime that took place at Stribling’s office, Murphy said that if someone isn’t in control, they can sacrifice everything, including their freedom.

“School, home, friends, family – emotionally, physically, sexually, legally, financially – and every part of your life is taken over, and they really don’t care as long as they feel good. Feeling good physically and emotionally well is more important than anything else in the world, ”he said.

Murphy added that the real change starts at home.

“Family and friends sometimes need to get help first,” Murphy said. “You make a dealership with an alcoholic or drug addict and allow them to continue to engage in certain addictive behaviors, you might as well open a dealership stand because that’s the whole business you’re going to be doing. “

They said that the ultimate responsibility lies with a person to truly want their life to change.

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“There are a lot of different support groups,” Murphy said. “Anonymous narcotics, anonymous heroin, anonymous opioid addiction, tons of different resources people can use.”

“They have to be honest with the people who can help you because there is help out there,” Stribling said. “Sometimes people don’t know where to go if they are homeless or have economic problems. I know we are going through a horrible pandemic, which has affected every aspect of life, but you need to make sure people know you are in trouble and need help. “

San Antonio Police are still looking for the two burglars involved.

If you have any information, please contact the police at 210-207-7273.

If you are struggling with an opioid addiction, you can contact the Addiction Help Line at 1-800-622-4357.

Murphy said his program is also available at 210-541-8400.