. >> larry had been painkillers for ten years for back pain - mostly oxycontin and hydrocodone. he calls himself an "accidental addict". >> it was taking exactly what the doctor prescribed, when the doctor prescribed, how the doctor prescribed. >> but his family hated the medication's side effects - anger, volatility and depression. >> how many grandchildren do you have? >> three. i have two grandsons and a granddaughter. before the drugs i could reason with anyone. on the drugs, no i would confront you in a heartbeat and didn't care you know of the outcome and i would treat my family to the point that, you know, i learned that that my grandchildren were afraid to be around me, uh, which to this day breaks my heart. took away years of time that i could have spent with them and really been happy, because of drugs trying to ease my pain... uh, uh, no. that's horrid. >> who should have stopped that process, who should have said, it's gone too far? >> the doctors. i did not know that there was, that maybe there are alternatives to it. i was just doing what the doctors told me to do.

that's my percocet, and my oxycodone and vitamin d, and this is an oxycontin 10 they suggest i take in the night. >> shirley sharr is 86 years old and she takes a high dose of opioids every day, to deal with pain that began after she had knee replacement surgery 13 years ago. her morning dose is the most important. nighttime is the longest she goes without taking the medication. >> and then i take this with me when we leave to go on an errand or something. this is always in my purse. i cannot ever forget that or i'd be in trouble. >> shirley's daughter, cari, sets an alarm to remind her mother to take the next dose, in three and a half hours. over the years, shirley's doctors steadily increased her dosage because she was developing a tolerance to the medication... it wasn't as effective. >> does it still manage your pain? does it help? >> no. well it does. but i'm still always in pain. i'm never out of pain. >> i wanted to ask you about some of the side effects of the painkillers that you're on. shortness of breath to the degree that it can actually cause respiratory problems or respir

did not start there it started with an addiction to prescription drugs namely percocet and then oxycontin. >> she died in her grandmother's home. >> it's not a drug addict on the corner anymore it's our own kids. >> she speaks to teens and parents at schools about the growing academic of opiate drugs leading to heroin. >> it's a gateway to opiate addiction in this country because there are so many prescription opiates left in the medicine cabinet. >> i don't know how to not be her parent anymore even though she is not here. this is my way of doing that. >> the dea has sponsored take back days, people clearing out their medicine cabinets of unused prescription drugs and turning them over to the dea for disposal. >> we destroyed 4 million pounds of expired and unused medications. >> this saturday the 12th, the dea will have several drop-off locations across pennsylvania and delaware and be centrally located and no question will be asked. it's a quick drop-off. i'm vernon odom, channel 6 "action news." >>> and you can find a complete list of the take back spots athe 6abc.com. >>> they say th

several warnings, including the overdose deaths of 12 patients overall and continued prescribing oxycontin. >> during this period of time the defendant's practice of prescribing did not change at all. >> reporter: three pharmacists testifying they even reported their concerns to authorities. >> the strengths were high and the quantities were large. >> reporter: defense attorneys say tseng is not guilty and they're responsible for their own behavior. >> they took excessive dosages. they mixed alcohol, other drugs. >> reporter: now the patient' families hope cases like this one can help save others. >> i don't want anybody else to lose their lives because of irresponsible prescribing. >> reporter: legal experts say this case could have an effect on doctors prescribing moving forward. if convicted she faces 45 years to life. >>> when we come back here tonight, the wark worker warned to clear out moments before a powerful blast. that case back in the news tonight, incredible. >>> also tina fey and amy poehler got laughs hosting the golden globes. the surprise coming for the oscars, two hosts,

including the overdose deaths of 12 patients overall and continued prescribing powerful painkillers like oxycontinis period of time, the defendant's practice of prescribing did not change at all. >> reporter: three pharmacists testifying they even reported hair concerns to authorities. >> the strengths were high and the quantities were low. >> but defense attorneys say sing is not guilty and her patients are ultimately responsible for their own behavior. >> they took excessive doses in some instances they mixed alcohol, they mixed other drugs. >> reporter: now the patients' families hope cases like this one can help save others. >> don't want anybody else to lose their life because of irresponsible prescribing. >> reporter: mara schiavocampo abc news, new york. >> if convicted tseng faces had ha years to life in prison. >> doctors are traditionally they face a civil lawsuit of malpractice but it's pretty rare that they would face criminal charges. that very notable exception of in the michael jackson case, dr. conrad murray. even he that was involuntary manslaughter he was convicted of. like we me

doctors and encouraged them to prescribe the latest most wonderful drug for long term pain management, oxycontin some people are afraid. less than 1% of patients taking these become addicted. >> sales of oxycontinue con tin skyrocketed to $3.1 billion in 2010. that same year, purdue tweaked the way they were making it in an attempt to, they said, limit its addictive qualities. finally the government and law enforcement took a harsh look at the drug, and it became harder to get legally which sucked for the thousands and thousands who by now had a serious habit. >> i'm ruth, i'm a family physician in greenfield, massachusetts, and i grew up here. my dad was a small-town doctor. i'm a total generalist, but for the last four and a half years, a lot of my practice has been focussed on addiction. >> i can get a bag of heroin easier than a joint. >> once they start, they just slip down that rabbit hole, and maybe they make it out. that's our goal is to get them out and live healthy again. we've created this mess we're in now. >> in downtown greenfield, the people's pint. an eco conscious pub that brews

for cash payments up to $1500, in one case, it's officer said that one provided an inmate with 100 oxycontin pills. we'll have a live report at 6:00. >>> police need your help finding a gunman that terrorized a north philadelphia bar on labor day, the duo stormed the 32nd street pub early monday morning. a person pointed a gun at an employee and threatened to blow his head off and forced a 46-year-old woman to kneel on her hands and knees. and then warned the male employee to a back office where he stole more cash, fortunately neither worker was hurt during this frightening ordeal. >> and they are hoping the public can help identify this man found on video, that he along with two women scammed a senior citizen out of $1,000 last month. the woman seen here counting her money, they allegedly told her they had a shopping bag full of cash and wanted to share it with her, it was only after she refused she realized her money had been stolen as they talked. >>> today a montgomery county pastor is offering an explanation after a sign posted outside of the chapel sparked controversy but a conversatio

. >> reporter: the thieves are targeting oxycontin and other prescription drugs. they disable alarm systems and they talk to each other using walkie-talkies. they are very good at what they do according to police. tomorrow, the fbi is expected to join this investigation. iain. >> all right, dave, thank you. >>> we're track something breaking news tonight a powerful earthquake hits chile triggering tsunami watch in the us. you can see the furniture in this apartment shaking when the ain't poe three magnitude quick hit the coast of santiago. authorities say one person has died just some pictures of the damage coming in. the roof of this mall in santiago came crashing down. >>> a live look tonight from hawaii now where tsunami watch is now in effect and if there is a tsunami authorities say the first wave would arrive around 3:00 a.m. scott you're track wagon this all means. >> that's certainly right. as we continue to follow developments from that 8.3 magnitude earthquake reported in chile just to the north and west of sections of santiago as we take a look at this

the fda-approved oxycontin for children under 11. it's for chronic pain and terminal illness. pediatric doctors applaud the approval but some worry it will lead to a spike in addiction among children. >> we lose a child every 19 minutes to an overdose of a prescription drug. >> a poll says it can be used safely in children. >>> gianna is in. it's friday. "friday light"? how are we doing in traffic. >> in some spots it's "friday light." most of the areas not too bad if you work your way through san jose. accident on 101 in san francisco at ninth. couldn't find it there. it's westbound 80 at fourth as you work your way into the city. one lane is blocked. fogfoggy from marin county into san francisco. use caution on the span along golden gate bridge. use caution in daly city and san bruno. again as you work your way up north there especially into san francisco. westbound 580 through the altamont pass sluggish out of tracy but you will see things slow down right there through the livermore valley 19 minutes from the altamont pass to 680. eastbound we are seeing some delays for som

investigators say the guards used their power to extort money from inmates who were seeking oxycontin and cell phones. the guards didn't know the drugs were not real. the bus was part of fbi sting that started in the fall of 2013. the feds were watching until late last year. >> we believe that several of the employees were engage in the this activity for some time. many of them are veterans -- veterans, one has nine years on the job, we don't know how deep the activity was. but after seizing street drugs in our facilities, and cell phones, we new we needed assistance. >> it doesn't appear at this point that the corrections officers involved were working together. the guards are being given time to turn themselves in. >> 4:10. a philadelphia woman will face life in prison for her role in the so-called talcony dungeon case. linden weston pleaded guilty to holding disabled adults in a dirty basement over ten year peeled. prosecutors say part of a scene. but stole their social security and disability benefit. investigators uncovered this trail of terror in 2011 finding four abused victims

investigators say, the guards use their power to extort money from inmate who were seeking oxycontin and cell phones. now the guards didn't know the drugs weren't real. the bus was part of fbi sing started in the fall of 2013. the feds were watching up until late last year. >> many are veterans, so one as long as nine years on the job, we don't know how deep the activity was but after seizing street drug, cell phones, we new we needed a cyst tans. >> it doesn't appear at this point the corrections officers were -- the corrections officers involved were working together. the guards are being given time to turn themselves in. >> turn yourselves in, wow. judge getting ready to hear argument by the six officers in the case every freddie gray's death. what police there are preparing for this morning. ♪ ♪ with the new chase freedom mobile app, you can simply redeem, pay, and go. the new chase freedom mobile app. the card is for the essentials. the cash back is for the fun. chase. so you can. >> all right, you can see how things have changed there, no more sunshine, out there, for today. >>

prosecutors say they would trade oxycontin pills and cell phones in exchange for cash. investigators say the guards would meet in an associate of an inmate outside of the prison. the guards would then take the contraband in exchange for up to a thousand dollars. >> to any officers who are considering this type of activity, i would recommend that they refrain from it and to anybody who may be in engaged in this, you'll be next. >> the union representing the correctional officers released a statement. it says in part "they are disturbed by the indictments but stand behind the prison guards saying they are innocent until proven guilty. >>> new details from last year's plane crash in massachusetts that killed a philadelphia newspaper co owner and sick other people. investigators now say the flight crew did not perform a pre flight safety check. they also say the pilots left the wing flaps locked in place preventing the plane from taking off. transportation safety officials say the pilots realized the error but only after it was too late. the aircraft over ran the runway cra

. >> i put xanax and cocaine and heroin, amphetamines and oxycontin in the same needle and shot it. >rig. that's crazy. >> i don't know how to describe that kind of high. have you ever shot vodka? >> no. have you? [ laughter ] >> he was on probation for a burglary conviction when he tested positive for drugs in the second jail. he was admitted to the drug rehab center but has been through numerous other programs since age 14. >> this is my first time in jail, and it sucks. it really sucks. i don't want to come back to jail again. the way i was doing drugs, if i go back out, the next time i stick a needle in my arm, i'm going to die. my mother's afraid she's going to bury me. i know that for a fact. and my dad just -- my dad's almost given up on me. that's why i'm really -- i'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. >> he has a lot of problems. i tell him that. he knows that. he's been through a lot. 21 years old. i haven't been through any of that. i wish him the best. i wish everybody the best in here. but we'll see. you never know. >> thomas costa is also an admitted heroin ad

the prison, dealing with the prison guard, engaging in conversations, with regard to the sale of oxycontin as well as, other drugs and arrange also were made to meet outside source, that was working with the government as well. >> reporter: each case investigators say that the defendant agreed to smuggle in bundles of about 100 pills and often phones for between $501,000 in cash. >> it is regrettable the sworn class that has an obligation to provide lawful and secure environment in our jails chose to offer their badges for sale and pervert their authority for personal gain. >> reporter: if convicted thompson, she'lls, romano and myers face a maximum of 40 years behind bars. hearder's max would be 45 wild kindle could be sentenced to 80 years in the same kind of facility where he and the rest were once employed. all six men turned themselves in here today, three of them were arraigned, all appear to be released on their own. coming up at 6:00 we will speak with an attorney whose client is one of the six men and son of the former philadelphia police officer. reporting live in front of the fe

investigators say they use their power to extort power from inmates seeking oxycontin and cell phones. the guards didn't know drugs were not real. the bus was part of fbi sting that started in the fall of 2013. the feds were watching until late last year. >> we believe that several of the employees were engage in the this activity for some time. many of them are veterans. so one has almost nine years on the job. we don't know how deep the activity was. but, after seizing street drugs, in our facilities, cell phones, we knee we needed assistance. >> doesn't a pie peer at this point they were working together on. >> this the guards are being given time to turn themselves in. >> so when you live in the sit, there are certain things you just don't expect to see. >> like, something from the wild, right? in fact, people there can't believe t pictures have been popping up on social media, showing a deer wandering the street of south philly, he is bleeding from the mouth and may have been hit by a karat some point. first spotted on ninth and ritner, then on oregon avenue, then porter street.

than a dozen times her patients were overdosing, she kept prescribing powerful painkillers like oxycontinnt of recklessness but the defense says dr. tseng is not guilty, that she's a hard working mother who never meant to hurt anyone. adding the victims are ultimately responsible for taking more than the prescribed dosage and mixing pills with alcohol. >> she wasn't a perfect doctor, but these patients took a lot into their own hands. they mixed alcohol. they mixed other drugs. >> reporter: three pharmacists taking the stand tuesday all three testifying the prescriptions written by dr. tseng and the patients filling those prescriptions raised red flags. >> the quantities were large. >> and that person would seem intoxicated or seem under the influence of drugs. >> reporter: though rare more doctors are facing these kinds of charges. in 2011 dr. conrad murray was convicted of involuntary manslaughter for giving michael jackson a deadly dose of the anesthetic propose follow. now some legal experts say cases like tseng's could set a new precedent. >> doctors could be held accountable if thos