U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Alaska issued the following announcement on Jan. 6.
In October 2019, U.S. Attorney Bryan Schroder announced that Special Agents with the Drug Enforcement Administration arrested 48-year-old Jessica Joyce Spayd, a former licensed Advanced Nurse Practitioner and owner of Eagle River Wellness, alleging illegal distribution of opioids such as oxycodone, methadone, and hydromorphone.
On Dec. 30, 2019, Senior U.S. District Judge Ralph R. Beistline issued an order directing the government to employ alternative victim notification procedures so that any member of the community at large who believes they may be a crime victim is made aware of their potential rights.
The government is asking that members of the community who believe they may be a victim of overprescribed opioids by ANP Jessica Spayd, Eagle River Wellness, to please contact (907) 271-3041 to reach the Victim-Witness Unit at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska.
Former patients of Spayd’s or their families may still be facing the aftermath of overprescribed opioid narcotics. The victim-witness program of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska, provides information, services, and support to individuals during federal prosecutions.
Case updates will be provided on the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Alaska website at https://www.justice.gov/usao-ak/united-states-v-spayd. Please also be aware of these free, confidential resources that may be of assistance:
- Always call 911 if it’s a life-threatening emergency.
- To find supportive services, dial 2-1-1 to call United Way. Operational hours are 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday – Friday. If you call after-hours, please leave a message. Phone calls will be returned the next business day. 2-1-1 provides information and referral service that connect people to vital community, health and social services provided by a range of nonprofit, government and tribal agencies.
- SAMHSA has a national helpline to assist with finding behavioral health support or substance use management at 800-662-HELP (4357), TTY: 800-487-4889, or online at https://findtreatment.samhsa.gov/. Calls are manned 24/7 and are routed to the DHSS Division of Behavioral Health during DHSS operational hours.
- Help is available 24/7 through Alaska's crisis hotline, Careline, which provides help for people who are either in crisis or who are dealing with isolation or depression. Call 1-877-266-HELP (4357).
- For Patient Information and Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Discontinued Prescriptions: http://www.dhss.alaska.gov/dph/Director/Pages/opioids/news.aspx
Original source can be found here.
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