Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S.

Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S.

Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S. - latimes.com var trblib = window.i$; i$.pluginPath = '/hive/javascripts/plugins/'; jQuery = $; //rename $ function trblib.ns('trb').data = { contentId: '75109955', marketCode: 'lanews', section: '/news/local'}; registration.manager.config.initialize({ productCode: "lanews", brandingSiteName: "latimes.com", assetHostname: "http://www.latimes.com", registrationHostname: "https://latimes.signon.trb.com", useGigyaCommenting: "", metricsCookieName: "metrics_id", skipNewsletters: "0", navProfileUrl: "", navNewsletterUrl: "", modalCloseUrl: "",navigationContainerSelector: "#ssorNavHeader",originHost: "http://www.latimes.com" || "", navigationBackgroundColor: "#000000", navigationTextColor: "", skipNewsletters: "0", userName: registration.utils.cookies.getValue( "c_unm" ) || "", tugsUrl: "http://discussions.latimes.com/", signUpHandler: function(){ if ( "/membership/" ){ window.document.location.href = "/membership/"; } else if ( "" ){ window.document.location.href = ""; } else { registration.manager.showRegistrationDialog(); } }, signInHandler: function(){ if ( "" ){ window.document.location.href = ""; }else { registration.component.navigation.NavigationController.defaultNavigationParams.signInHandler(); } } }); jQuery( function(){ if ( "/membership/" ){ var eventManager = registration.manager.events.getEventManagerInstance(); registration.manager.config.setConfig( "signUpListener", "reg-signup-override" ); eventManager.addListener( "reg-signup-override", function(){ window.document.location.href = "/membership/"; }); } }); i$.ns('trb.data').dssOverrideLevelCode = ''; i$.require('http://www.tribdss.com/meter/latweb.js', function meteringServiceCallback() { trb.meteringService.modalCloseUrl = document.location.href.split('/').slice(0, 3).join('/') + '/about/site/registration/signin_registration.complete?'; trb.meteringService.init = function() {}; trb.meteringService.meter(null, null, function() { }); }); trblib.require('/hive/javascripts/loggingService.js', function loggingServiceCallback() { trb.loggingService({ sn: trb.data.section == '/' ? '' : trb.data.section, mc: trb.data.marketCode, ref: document.referrer, cid: trb.data.contentId && 'P2P-' + trb.data.contentId, es: window.registration && registration.manager.user.getUser() && registration.manager.user.getUser().getMasterId() || window.carnival && carnival.user.profile().masterId }); }); div.thumbnail span.credit { font-weight: normal !important;}div.article div.articlerail ul li.relatedTitle, div.storygallery div.storyGalleryRail ul li.relatedTitle { font-size: 12px !important;} Membership Services Jobs Cars Real Estate Subscribe Rentals Weekly Circulars Custom Publishing Place Ad   Local HOME Breaking Photos Video Crime Obituaries Weather Traffic Crosswords Sudoku Horoscopes Apps Local L.A. Now Politics Crime Education O.C. Westside Neighborhoods Environment Obituaries Data & Maps U.S. Politics Nation Now Politics Now Top of the Ticket Science Science Now Obituaries Religion World World Now Afghanistan war Africa Americas Asia Europe Middle East Business Money & Co. Technology Highway 1 Company Town Personal Finance Jobs Real Estate Cars Sports Sports now Lakers Clippers Dodgers Angels NFL Kings NHL/Ducks USC UCLA Preps Scores Entertainment Awards: The Envelope Movies TV Music Celebrity Arts & Culture Industry Calendar Books Comics Health Booster Shots Science Now Medicine Fitness & Nutrition Mental Health Health Reform Living Home Food Image Books L.A. Affairs Comics Reader Photos Travel SoCal California Mexico Hawaii Las Vegas Europe Asia Australia Travel & Deal Blog Opinion Editorials Op-Ed Letters Opinion L.A. Readers' Rep Endorsements Shop Weekly Circulars Offers & Deals Coupons Daily Deals Travel Offers LA Times Product Sports Gear Photos Membership Services Jobs Cars Real Estate Subscribe Rentals Weekly Circulars Custom Publishing Place Ad TRENDING NOW jered weaver Margaret Thatcher North Korea Herbalife ashley judd /*OVERWRITES*/.adv_search { background-color: #fff; }#adv_search { background-color: #eee; }#adv_search .adv_search_head,#adv_help .adv_search_head { background-color: #000; }#search_overlay { background-color: #eee; }#search-results ul.advTabs { background-color: #000; }#search-results ul.advTabs li a { background-color: #000; }#search-results ul.advTabs li.advCurrTab a { background-color: #fff; color: #000; }div.panelTab { background: url("/images/adv_search/adv_panel_bg.png") no-repeat; }#adv_keywords_head { background-color: #000; }#adv_results .clearfix {display:block;} Advanced Search Advanced Search X include all of these words: include any of these words: include this exact phrase: exclude: Select a date range this week past 30 days past 3 months past year Create a custom date range From: To: Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S. The latest figures on overdoses come as pressure mounts to restrict use of prescription drugs such as OxyContin and Vicodin. Comments84 i$.require('http://cdn.gigya.com/js/socialize.js?apiKey=2_COh26GgfZDptreu0iQ9aknzT_Ig861qYxOHZVxizrZMTn81vygTB-ptN33wgCtrj', function() { var act = new gigya.socialize.UserAction(), showShareBarUI_params = { containerID: 'componentDiv_top', shareButtons: [{ provider:'Email'}, { provider:'Share'}, { provider:'twitter-tweet'}, { provider:'facebook-like', action:'like'}], userAction: act, moreEnabledProviders: 'facebook,email,pinterest,twitter,linkedin,tumblr,delicious,digg,blogger,google,stumbleupon,reddit' }; act.setTitle("Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S."); act.setLinkBack("http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0330-rx-deaths-20130330,0,1604889.story"); act.setDescription("Despite efforts by law enforcement and public health officials to curb prescription drug abuse, drug-related deaths in the United States have continued to rise, the latest data show."); gigya.socialize.showShareBarUI(showShareBarUI_params); }); By Scott Glover and Lisa Girion, Los Angeles Times March 29, 2013, 5:10 p.m.

Despite efforts by law enforcement and public health officials to curb prescription drug abuse, drug-related deaths in the United States have continued to rise, the latest data show.

Figures from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that drug fatalities increased 3% in 2010, the most recent year for which complete data are available. Preliminary data for 2011 indicate the trend has continued.

The figures reflect all drug deaths, but the increase was propelled largely by prescription painkillers such as OxyContin and Vicodin, according to just-released analyses by CDC researchers.

Also Times investigation: Legal drugs, deadly outcomes Bill aims to tighten restrictions on painkiller hydrocodone Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris urges funding for prescription tracking Parents of prescription overdose victims plead with legislators DEA official backs tighter rules on narcotic painkillers

Times investigation: Legal drugs, deadly outcomes

The numbers were a disappointment for public health officials, who had expressed hope that educational and enforcement programs would stem the rise in fatal overdoses.

"While most things are getting better in the health world, this isn't," CDC director Tom Frieden said in an interview. "It's a big problem, and it's getting worse."

Drugs overtook traffic accidents as a cause of death in the country in 2009, and the gap has continued to widen.

Overdose deaths involving prescription painkillers rose to 16,651 in 2010, the CDC researchers found. That was 43% of all fatal overdoses.

The numbers come amid mounting pressure to reduce the use of prescription painkillers. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is considering a proposal to limit daily doses of painkillers and restrict their use to 90 days or less for non-cancer patients. The proposal also would make such drugs available to non-cancer patients only if they suffer from severe pain.

"The data supporting long-term use of opiates for pain, other than cancer pain, is scant to nonexistent," Frieden said. "These are dangerous drugs. They're not proven to have long-term benefit for non-cancer pain, and they're being used to the detriment to hundreds of thousands of people in this country."

Among the most promising tools to combat the problem, Frieden said, are computerized drug monitoring programs that track prescriptions for painkillers and other commonly abused narcotics from doctor to pharmacy to patient. Frieden said such programs should be used to monitor doctors' prescribing as well as patients' use.

"You've got to look at the data to see where the problems are," he said. "You don't want to be flying blind."

In California, officials do not use the state's prescription drug monitoring program, known as CURES, to proactively seek out problem patients or physicians. The state's medical board initiates investigations of doctors only after receiving a complaint. Legislation awaiting action in Sacramento would increase funding for CURES and provide more investigators to police excessive prescribing, among other measures.

Frieden, a physician trained at Columbia and Yale universities, said patient safety should be placed above the concerns among some doctors about scrutiny of their prescribing patterns.

"We all take an oath to, above all, do no harm," he said. "And these medications do harm. You're free to practice medicine however you want. But you're not free to do things that hurt people."

President Obama's drug czar, R. Gil Kerlikowske, echoed Frieden's call for aggressive monitoring by state medical boards.

"You can't just sit back, have a big database and then say, 'Well, we'll wait till there's a complaint that comes in,'" he said in an interview. "You have to use it proactively."

Lynn Webster, president-elect of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, said the new figures underscored the need for further action, such as educating physicians to recognize patients who are at risk for abusing painkillers.

"This is not the trend anyone wants to see," Webster said.

CDC mortality data, culled from death certificates, do not detail how the decedents obtained the drugs that killed them.

A Los Angeles Times analysis of coroners records published last year found that prescriptions from physicians played a substantial role in the death toll. Of 3,733 prescription drug-related fatalities in Southern California examined by The Times, nearly half involved at least one drug that had been prescribed to the decedent by a physician.

Seventy-one doctors prescribed drugs to three or more patients who later fatally overdosed, the analysis showed. And several of the doctors lost a dozen or more patients to overdoses.

The latest CDC figures predate a broad attack on prescription drug abuse and misuse launched by the White House in April 2011. The preliminary figure for 2011 is down slightly but is expected to grow by at least 5% — exceeding the 2010 level — when all death certificates are in and counted, experts said. That's what has happened in previous years.

Kerlikowske, who heads the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said efforts to hone the response to measures that show results were frustrated by the lagging mortality data. But, he said, anecdotal evidence and surveys of younger Americans suggest "there's a lot going on that's moving in the right direction."

He declined to predict when there would be downturn in deaths.

"It won't be overnight, certainly," he said. "But we didn't get here, with these kinds of numbers of deaths and overdoses, overnight."

scott.glover@latimes.com

lisa.girion@latimes.com

Copyright © 2013, Los Angeles Times

Comments84 i$.require('http://cdn.gigya.com/js/socialize.js?apiKey=2_COh26GgfZDptreu0iQ9aknzT_Ig861qYxOHZVxizrZMTn81vygTB-ptN33wgCtrj', function() { var act = new gigya.socialize.UserAction(), showShareBarUI_params = { containerID: 'componentDiv_bottom', shareButtons: [{ provider:'Email'}, { provider:'Share'}, { provider:'twitter-tweet'}, { provider:'facebook-like', action:'like'}], userAction: act, moreEnabledProviders: 'facebook,email,pinterest,twitter,linkedin,tumblr,delicious,digg,blogger,google,stumbleupon,reddit' }; act.setTitle("Deaths tied to painkillers rising in the U.S."); act.setLinkBack("http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-0330-rx-deaths-20130330,0,1604889.story"); act.setDescription("Despite efforts by law enforcement and public health officials to curb prescription drug abuse, drug-related deaths in the United States have continued to rise, the latest data show."); gigya.socialize.showShareBarUI(showShareBarUI_params); });   Comments (84)Add / View comments | Discussion FAQ sharonsj at 1:53 PM April 04, 2013

If I could use medical marijuana instead of the Vicodin I've been taking for the last five years, I'd probably be a lot happier.  As it is, I'm forced to make a trip every month to get the prescription in person.  And then, because of the limited number, I have to decide how to make those 60 pills last.

The legislators worried about abuse never take into account the people who actually need these pills.

NeuroscienceAddict at 8:28 AM April 03, 2013

Addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease. It's treatable. Perhaps not as successfully as one might like, but on a par with other chronic diseases that require substantial behavioral change, like diabetes and hypertension.

Unfortunately, many people still don't believe addiction is a disease. That's why science-based education is so important.

For a not-for-profit website that discusses the science of substance use and abuse in accessible English (how alcohol and drugs work in the brain; how addiction develops; why addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease; what parts of the brain malfunction as a result of substance abuse; how that malfunction skews decision-making and motivation, resulting in addict behaviors; why some get addicted while others don't; how treatment works; how well treatment works; why relapse is common; what family and friends can do; etc.) please click on www.AddictScience.com.

disgusted bystander at 9:24 PM April 02, 2013

As the mother of a chronic pain patient. I'm worried..  What are the options--illegal- ones--- lots of heroin in rural ohio. On a controlled dose of pain meds he's a working functional tax payer.  Although, prescription narcotics are dangerous.  It seems the people that die from prescription narcotics are also drinking, using illegal drugs,crushing injecting and snorting their pills, or young people not under doctors care stealing methadone and other strong slow acting pills and think they need more to get high, doctor shopping ect. or are otherwise physically compromised. Rehab has about a 5% sucess rate. Look for crime to go way way up!. First these patients, then it will be no pain relief for elderly, no xanax or sleeping pills of any sort for you, forrget about adderal and amphetemines for adhd, narcolepsy ect,,. only new big pharma drugs that have lots of side effects, don't really work and cost big bucks..I would rather take a medicine that is 20 years old safer less side effects. Follow the money!

Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form. /*Place Ad link styles PO 5/1/2012 */div#classBarNav ul.classBarNavLink li.lastMenuItem { background-color: #000000; border: 1px solid #000000; border-radius:12px 12px 12px 12px / 80px 80px 80px 80px; padding: 2px; position: relative; bottom: 4px; }div#classBarNav ul.classBarNavLink li.lastMenuItem a {color: #ffffff; background-color: #000000; }/* New Facebook Styles AE 5-7-2012 */#fb-recommend {border:1px solid #DDDDDD; padding: 14px 10px 18px 16px; margin-bottom:20px;}#fb-title-holder {font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 10px; background-color: #fff!important;}#fb-title-holder div.title {float: left; padding-top:3px; font-style:italic;}#fb-title-holder div.like-button {position: relative; left: 10px; top: 2px;}#fb-title-holder iframe {border:none; overflow:hidden; width:100px; height:21px; background-color: #fff!important;}#social-header{padding:4px 10px 0px 15px;border-top:1px solid #ddd;border-left:1px solid #ddd;border-right:1px solid #ddd;background:-moz-linear-gradient(top,#fefefe 0%,#dddddd 100%);background:-webkit-gradient(linear,left top,left bottom,color-stop(0%,#fefefe),color-stop(100%,#dddddd));background:-webkit-linear-gradient(top,#fefefe 0%,#dddddd 100%);background:-o-linear-gradient(top,#fefefe 0%,#dddddd 100%);background:-ms-linear-gradient(top,#fefefe 0%,#dddddd 100%);background:linear-gradient(top,#fefefe 0%,#dddddd 100%);filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient( startColorstr='#fefefe',endColorstr='#dddddd',GradientType=0 );zoom:1;} #social-header span{font-size:19px;padding:0px 10px;position:relative;top:-5px;}#social-header img.social-logo{position:relative;top:0px;height:25px;}#social-header img{cursor:pointer;margin-right:5px;display:inline;position:relative;top:-1px;}.newtip{width:auto;}.stickytooltip{box-shadow:5px 5px 8px #818181;-webkit-box-shadow:5px 5px 8px #818181;-moz-box-shadow:5px 5px 8px #818181;display:none;position:absolute;border:1px solid #ccc;background:#eeeeee;z-index:3000;}/* ELEX HEADER PO 1-21-2012/updated 11/2 */#campaignNav { background-image:url('http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2012-01/67514121.jpg') ; background-repeat:no-repeat; height: 26px; width: 980px; color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-decoration: none; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; }#campaignNav a:link, #campaignNav a:visited { text-decoration: none; color: #ffffff; }#campaignNav a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }#electionHeader { width: 980px; border-bottom: 1px dotted #000000; height: 32px; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-top: 16px }#electionHeader a{ font-family: arial; font-size: 14px; }#electionHeader div { float: left;}#electionHeader ul { margin: 0px; float: right; }#electionHeader ul li { float: left; padding-right: 10px; position: relative; top: 9px; }#electionHeader ul li span { float: left; padding-right: 2px;}#electionHeader ul li img { float:right; *float: none; padding-right: 12px; width: 12px; height: 15px;}/* Cars Module AE 11-20-2012 */div.tabModuleContainer.cars div.tabs {background-color:#FFF; border-top: 3px solid #FFF; float:left; height:auto; border-bottom:none;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.tab {background-color:#FFF !important; padding:0px 8px; border-left:1px solid #CCC; border-right:1px solid #CCC; border-top:1px solid #CCC;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.tab:first-child {border-left:1px solid #CCC;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab {background-color:#593DA3 !important; border-right:1px solid #fff;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.tab a {color: #000; font-family:Georgia, "Times New Roman", Times, serif; text-transform:none; font-size:15px;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab a {color: #FFF;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab a:link {color: #FFF;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab a:visited {color: #FFF;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab a:hover {color: #FFF;}.tabModuleContainer.cars ul.tabModule li.curTab a:active {color: #FFF;}.tabModuleContainer.cars .tabContentContainer {padding:0;} #gallery-slideshow #photo-information #pgCaption{font-size:14px;line-height:18px;margin-top:6px}#photo-information h3,div#photo-information h1{font-weight:700;font-size:16px}.gallery-slideshow-photo{width:auto;height:auto;max-width:630px}div.module.headlines.incase-box-new{background-image:url('http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2011-05/61857325.png');background-repeat:no-repeat;margin-bottom:20px;width:334px;padding-top:45px;border-bottom:0 solid #ccc}div.module.headlines.incase-box-new div:first-child{border:1px solid #ccc}div.module.headlines.incase-box-new img.headlineThumb{width:150px !important;height:84px !important}div.module.headlines.incase-box-new div.headlineItem.rightHeadlinePos.briefRight.lines{margin:0 10px 10px;padding-bottom:0;padding-top:10px;border-top:1px dotted #ccc;border-bottom:0}#topRightNarrow div.titleContainer+div.headlineItem.rightHeadlinePos.briefRight.lines,#rail div.titleContainer+div.headlineItem.rightHeadlinePos.briefRight.lines{border-top:none;padding-top:0}div.module.headlines.incase-box-new div.headlineItem.rightHeadlinePos.briefRight.lines:first-child{border:none}#rail #stockquotes div.module{border:2px solid #BCB9B9;padding:6px}#stockquotes #markets #datetime{width:307px;font-style:italic;font-size:11px;padding-bottom:4px}#stockquotes #markets #spx,#stockquotes #markets #comp,#stockquotes #markets #indu{width:305px}#stockquotes #markets #spx .negChange,#stockquotes #markets #spx .posChange,#stockquotes #markets #spx .company+.last,#stockquotes #markets #comp .negChange,#stockquotes #markets #comp .posChange,#stockquotes #markets #comp .company+.last,#stockquotes #markets #indu .negChange,#stockquotes #markets #indu .posChange,#stockquotes #markets #indu .company+.last{font-size:13px;font-weight:700}#rail #stockquotes #quote,.narrow #stockquotes #quote{width:304px;background-color:#fff;border:0}#rail #stockquotes .company,.narrow #stockquotes .company{font-size:13px}#rail #stockquotes #quote-label,.narrow #stockquotes #quote-label,#gallery-slideshow #photo-information{font-size:12px}#stockquotes{border:2px solid #ddd;padding-left:6px;padding-right:6px;text-align:center;padding-top:10px}#rail #stockquotes #quote-input,.narrow #stockquotes #quote-input{width:209px}#rail #stockquotes #quote,.narrow #stockquotes #quote{padding:5px 5px 5px 10px;text-align:left}#stockquotes #quote form{width:304px;padding-left:0}#stockquotes #quote-submit{zoom:1;vertical-align:middle}.feed-module-special{margin-top:10px;padding:8px;width:180px !important}#feed-top{background-color:#fff;position:relative;bottom:14px;right:14px;z-index:100;padding-bottom:8px}#feed-hed{font-size:20px}#feed-sub{font-size:12px;font-style:italic;position:relative;left:10px;text-transform:none}.classifiedAdRail.defaultHeadlines .headlineItem,#headlineContainer,.classifiedAdRail #headlineContainer .mainHeadline,.classifiedAdRail.mainSlideDetailsContents,.classifiedAdRail#leadcontent-bigstory{padding-right:10px}.classifiedAdRail .aboveHeadlinePos{margin-left:10px;padding-bottom:0;margin-bottom:0}.classifiedAdRail img.headlineThumb{padding-bottom:6px;padding-left:6px}.classifiedAdRail .titleContainer .title{border-bottom:0 solid #DDD;border-top:0 solid #000;background-color:#efefef;margin:1px;padding:0 !important 10px 0 6px}.classifiedAdRail .titleContainer .title .header{position:relative;top:-6px}.classifiedAdRail .sectionlink-head{margin-top:6px;margin-bottom:6px;margin-left:11px}.classifiedAdRail{border:1px solid #ddd}.classifiedAdRail .headlineTable{margin-right:6px;padding-left:6px;padding-right:6px}.rr_promo-box{padding:10px;margin-bottom:15px !important;border:2px solid #ddd !important}.rr_promo-header{font-size:24px;margin-bottom:5px}.rr_promo-text{margin-top:10px}.rr_promo-span{width:312px;height:105px}.rr_promo-lft{width:187px;height:105px;float:left;margin-right:10px}.rr_promo-rt{width:187px;height:105px;float:right;margin-left:10px}.more-sports .title { font-size: 18px; }.more-sports #promoheader { float: left; padding-right: 8px; }.more-sports #promoheader h2 {font-size: 22px; }.more-sports { margin-top: 2px; margin-bottom: 2px; border-top: 2px double #000000; border-bottom: 2px solid #000000;padding-left: 3px; padding-bottom: 6px; }#promoheader h2 { font-size: 24px; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-top: 2px;}.more-sports #textarea {padding-bottom: 0px; font-size: 16px; padding-top: 5px; }.more-sports #textarea input { font-size:10px; padding:3px 2px 2px; }blockquote.quote{font-size:24px;width:245px;float:left;padding:20px 20px 20px 25px;margin:10px 10px 10px 0;border-top:3px solid #000;border-bottom:3px solid #000;background:url(http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2011-07/63504926.png) no-repeat 0 22px;line-height:1.3em}blockquote.no-quote{font-size:24px;width:245px;float:left;padding:20px;margin:10px 10px 10px 0;border-top:3px solid #000;border-bottom:3px solid #000;line-height:1.3em}div#message-guidelines a {color:#2262cc;}/* Make vertical photos clickable AE 12-12-2011 */div.article div#story-body div.thumbnail {position:relative; z-index:1000;}/* ELEX HEADER JQUERY PO 1-21-2012 */#campaignNav { background-image:url('http://www.latimes.com/media/graphic/2012-01/67514121.jpg') ; background-repeat:no-repeat; height: 26px; width: 980px; color: #ffffff; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-decoration: none; margin-top: 20px; margin-bottom: 20px; }#campaignNav a:link, #campaignNav a:visited { text-decoration: none; color: #ffffff; }#campaignNav a:hover { text-decoration: underline; }/* MORE SPORTS FIX AE 3-27-2012 */.more-sports #textarea select {width:150px;}/* Columnist deckheadline fix AE 4-23-2012 */ div.article#content p.subhead {margin-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 2px; font-size: 12px; text-transform: uppercase;}/* Sharetips CSS AE 6-15-2012 */#shareTip { padding: 0px; background: rgb(204, 204, 204); background: rgba(204, 204, 204, 0.6); *background: transparent; filter:progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr=#99000000, endColorstr=#99000000); -ms-filter: "progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.gradient(startColorstr=#99000000, endColorstr=#99000000)"; -o-border-radius: 5px; -webkit-border-radius: 5px; -moz-border-radius: 5px; border-radius: 5px; width:45px; height: 24px; display:none; z-index:9999999;}#shareTipFb {display: inline; float: left; margin-right: 2px; padding-top:2px; padding-bottom:2px; }#shareTipTwttr{display: inline; float: left; padding-top:2px; padding-bottom:2px; }.shareTipButton { width: 20px; height: 20px; }.sharetip_text { margin-top:5px; display: inline-block; font-size:11px; color: #666; margin-bottom:1px; }#sharetip_button_cont { margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; width:42px; }/* HIDE RELATED RAIL MAP LINKS PO 6/20/2012 */div.article div.articlerail ul li.relatedTitle, div.article div.articlerail ul #li0, div.article div.articlerail ul #li1, div.article div.articlerail ul #li2, div.article div.articlerail ul #li3 { display: none; visibility: hidden; }/*Special Report Box PO*/div.module.headlines.special-box-new { border-bottom: 0 solid #CCCCCC;margin-bottom: 20px;padding: 10px;width: 308px;border:4px double #cccccc;margin:20px 0;} div.module.headlines.special-box-new .headlineItem.lines { padding-bottom: 10px;} div.module.headlines.special-box-new div.curvedContent h2.title { font-size: 18px; border-bottom: 3px solid #990000; border-top: 0px; border-bottom: 0px; margin-bottom: 10px; color: #6d6868; } div.module.headlines.special-box-new div.curvedContent h2.title a { color: #990000; }/*QUIZ STYLES PO */#story-body .eewidget { width: 600px; height: 550px; font-size: 30px; text-align: center; border-bottom: 1px solid #dddddd; border-top: 1px solid #dddddd; padding-top: 16px; padding-bottom: 16px; background:url(http://www.latimes.com/includes/wealth/spinningWheel.gif) no-repeat center center; }#story-body .eewidget a{display: none; visibility: hidden; } Connect Recommended on Facebook (function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1&appId=121694484590917"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); }(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk')); Follow @latimes !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); Advertisement $10 for $20 toward food & drinks at Cafe Valentino North Korea warns foreigners to leave South Dwight Howard, now a man of few words Rick Warren says 'haters celebrate' his pain Margaret Thatcher: Lionized and lambasted div.tabModuleContainer.potd div.tabs { border-top: 0px; margin-top: 20px;}.potd .potd-hed { margin: 6px; float: left; }.potd .potd-more { margin: 14px 6px 6px; float: right; }.potd .potd-hed a { color: #ffffff; font-size: 22px; }.potd .potd-more a { color: #ffffff; font-size: 14px; text-align: right; }.potd div.tabContentContainer { width: auto; background-color: #000000; padding: 0px 0px 0px 0px; border-top: 0px; }.potd div.tabContentContainer img { width: 336px; height: 110px; }#topRightNarrow div.potd div.tabContentContainer, #topRightNarrow div.potd div.tabContentContainer .newContent {padding:0; margin-left:0;} Photos of the DayMore » Most Viewed Latest News Google's Android is target of new antitrust complaint in Europe 04/09/2013, 9:21 a.m. Navy's Blue Angels cancel 2013 performances due to sequestration 04/09/2013, 9:19 a.m. Herbalife says KPMG 'concluded it was not independent' as auditor 04/09/2013, 8:53 a.m. Rescued hiker: 'I just thought I was in a big dream' 04/09/2013, 8:45 a.m. Ford Focus ranked as world's top-selling car; Toyota Corolla second 04/09/2013, 8:43 a.m. Second screens popular but not always companion TV apps, study says - Company Town - latimes.com 04/09/2013, 9:34 a.m. Feds file legal brief in Marin County oyster farm case - Environment - latimes.com 04/09/2013, 9:32 a.m. Feds file legal brief in Marin County oyster farm case - L.A. Times - Environment 04/09/2013, 9:32 a.m. Google's Android is target of new antitrust complaint in Europe - Business - latimes.com 04/09/2013, 9:21 a.m. Baseball: Loyola's Brian Felten is in final season as coach - Varsity Times Insider 04/09/2013, 9:17 a.m. h2.videoTitle {padding: 5px 0px 4px 0px; border-bottom:1px solid #DDDDDD; border-top:3px solid #000000; font-size:24px; margin-bottom:10px;}Video #wishabiBox {margin-bottom: 20px;}var x = document.location.href.split('/');var y = x.splice(0,3);var path = "";var varNum = '';var varDivContent ='';for (i=0, len=x.length; i Photos: 10 most overpaid players in the NBA Photos: Top cars with lowest sticker price per mpg Photos: Behind-the-scenes Classic Hollywood Photos: California's most notorious killers Jonathan Gold: Best Chinese restaurants in L.A. Corrections The Envelope Media Kit About Us Contact Us Site Map Burbank Leader Coastline Pilot Daily Pilot Huntington Beach Independent News Press Pasadena Sun Valley Sun KTLA Hoy Baltimore Sun Chicago Tribune Daily Press Hartford Courant Los Angeles Times Orlando Sentinel Sun Sentinel The Morning Call Terms of Service Privacy Policy About Our Ads Los Angeles Times, 202 West 1st Street, Los Angeles, California, 90012 Copyright 2013

function membershipPencil(){window.location.href="http://www.latimes.com/membership/?track=lat-630x30-Display%20Ad-Membership%202-in%20house-sitewide-November212012";}var x = document.location.href.split('/');var varimg = jQuery(document.createElement('img'));varimg.attr('src', 'http://tax04.tii.trb/img-50b68411/turbine/la-membership-pencil-ad-20121128/630');varimg.attr('onClick', 'membershipPencil()');if (window.location.href.indexOf('.') != -1) {if (window.location.href.indexOf('/travel/') != -1) {varimg.prependTo('#content-bottom');} else if ((window.location.href.indexOf('/sports/') != -1) || ((window.location.href.indexOf('/health/la-') != -1) || (window.location.href.indexOf('/health/sns-') != -1))) {varimg.insertAfter('#content-bottom .blurb:first-child');} else {varimg.appendTo('#content-bottom')}}varimg.css({ 'cursor': 'pointer', 'margin-bottom':'15px' });

A Tribune Newspaper website DM_addEncToLoc("Site", (s.server));DM_addEncToLoc("channel", (s.channel));DM_addEncToLoc("keyword", (s.prop3));DM_cat(s.hier1);DM_tag();

View the original article here