A news report published in the Marinscope Community Newspapers is warning the local residents of a cache of drugs that were stolen from a local veterinary hospital.
The article, written by Joe Wolfcale and titled: Police warn residents of dangerous drugs stolen from vet hospital states that:
San Anselmo police have issued a warning to residents to be on the lookout for a dangerous cache of drugs stolen from a San Anselmo veterinary hospital early Tuesday, Aug. 23.
An employee of the Ross Valley Veterinary Hospital… discovered the back door unlocked and several controlled substances had been stolen from a locked medicine cabinet.
Among the drugs is Euthasol, a substance used for the humane, painless and rapid euthanasia for dogs, San Anselmo Police Detective Corp. Julie Gorwood said.
Euthasol contains pentobarbital sodium and phenytoin sodium, according to one drug web site. The drug hastens the stoppage of electrical activity in the animal’s heart.
“We just wanted to get the word out as quickly as we can because some of this stuff is dangerous,” Gorwood said. “We don’t have a complete tally of what was taken, but we know they took the entire shelf of medicines.”
Gorwood said there was no sign of forced entry on the building.
“We’re not really sure how they got in or if someone had a key or the door was left open,” Gorwood said.
The other controlled substances stolen were opiates, Hydrocodone (more commonly known as Vicodin), Hydromorphone (Dilaudid) and an anesthetic Ketamine and Morphine, used primarily for pain relief.
No computer equipment or other valuables were taken, Gorwood said.
Police want to warn residents not to touch the contents if found. If the cache of drugs is found, please phone the police department immediately. Anyone with information should also contact police.
The Euthanasia Prevention Coalition wonders if Philip Nitschke, has caused the increase in veterinary hospital break-ins?
Nitschke, Australia’s Dr Death, sells an online book that details how a person can kill themselves. Since the publication of his online book, there has been a growth in break-ins related to stealing controlled substances from Veterinary hospitals for the purpose of suicide.
In February 2010, a study that was released by the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine indicated that there had been 51 known Nembutal deaths in Austalia in the previous 10 years. Link.
An article printed in the Sydney Morning Herald stated that:
In 27 cases there was no reference to these factors, prompting some to speculate these people had committed suicide because of psychological or psychiatric reasons. ...
In 10 cases, euthanasia material was found at the scene of the death, or it was discovered that the deceased had made contact with euthanasia organisations. Coroners found that eight people had obtained the drug from overseas. ...
People who are depressed or experiencing feelings of hopelessness, are purchasing Nitschke’s book online. They are breaking into Veterinary Hospitals because Nitschke explains in his book that these lethal drugs can be bought from unscrupulous veterinarians or veterinary drug suppliers.
Veterinary hospitals need to change their storage procedures to ensure that depressed people with psychological or psychiatric needs cannot easily obtain these lethal drugs.
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