As a Registered Nurse an active member of the healthcare community I would like to provide clarification of the "alleged excessive volume" of controlled substances found in Jeff Hardy's home #120 Several pharmaceuticals were discovered and volumes of each reported. These volumes while at first seem excessive to lay persons unfamiliar with medial protocol however I would like to provide clarification as to the dosing guidelines and average prescribed volumes of these medications.

1) Soma (Carisoprodol): Is a skeletal muscle relexant prescribed for acute or chronic muscle pain. The FDA approved dosing regimen for this is 1 tab (250-350mg) every 8 hours and once at bedtime as needed for pain. Taken at this regimen, this would be a prescribed volume of #120 per month. As many insurance companies require or at minimum request 90 day supply of prescription medications, a typical 90 day prescription for Soma at the FDA approved minimum dosing regimen would be 360 tablets. I can tell you that in my office, this occurs on a daily basis.

2) Vicodin (Hydrocodone/Apap): Is a narcotic analgesic used for moderate to severe musculoskeletal pain. Relevant to strength, the FDA approved dosing regimen is 1-2 tabs every 4-6 hours not to exceed 8 tabs daily. At this dosing regimen, a commonly prescribed volume of Vidocin would be 240 tablets monthly and if written at a 90 day supply as dictated by many insurance companies this would require a volume of 720 tablets. Therefore if appropriately prescribed by a board certified physician, neither volume of Soma or Vicodin would be outside the normal range of what would be expected within the possession of individuals with chronic moderate to severe pain.

While I cannot address the apparent anabolic steroids, these also can be prescribed by board certified physicians. I just don't believe, as a medical professional that rush to judgement is warranted or appropriate at this time.

Thank you for your time.

Jeff Deville, RN, BSN, LP, CRNI, NCT

===

Given the highlights of what they found, I'd have to say his excuse would be that it's for pain management. Both Vicodin and Soma are used almost primarily because of their analgesic properties, and Soma (Carisoprodol) actually interacts in such a way with codeine-derived painkillers that it allows a lower dose of the painkiller to have a greater effect, which is particularly useful in situations where injury is a problem.

Jeff had two herniated discs and a neck injury, and was wrestling almost every night and doing insane stunts on a regular basis; a couple friends of mine also have herniated discs, and they're about an 8 on the pain scale when they're not using painkillers (Vicodin no longer works for them, and they need Fentanyl patches to control the pain).

Anabolic steroids are regularly prescribed to accelerate the healing process, and since Jeff doesn't particularly look like he's been abusing them ala Bonds or McGwire I'd say he's not trying to look like Hulk but rather repair the injuries he's repeatedly giving himself. "Intent to distribute" simply means that he had amounts of the drugs in excess of the amount stated in the statute, and most people with chronic pain will stockpile painkillers for a rainy day. These aren't the greatest of excuses, sure, but being in pain all the time makes you do funny things.

As to the cocaine residue and drug paraphernalia, I'm going to say relics of a misguided past. 90% of the paper money in the US has cocaine residue on it, it's simply a property of the drug that makes it almost impossible to eliminate completely. He probably has used cocaine in the past (along with virtually every celebrity on the planet with any sort of party history), but that's not necessarily an indication that he's using it now. Wellness tests would have thrown a major red flag since cocaine stays in you for quite a while, and with WWE recently suspending a major babyface superstar like Mysterio over a technicality I don't think they would have hesitated to call Hardy out, #1 contender or not. The cocaine charge won't stick unless they actually found any, any half-decent lawyer can successfully claim that they have no way of proving Hardy had any cocaine in his possession at the time or even recently. As for the paraphernalia, that likely means a bong of some sort that isn't even worth prosecuting over.

Overall, the charges are likely more serious than they actually are (because DAs will normally charge people with as many things as possible to force a plea), and Hardy will pay a fine, get some probation, and have to check into rehab for a few months. Absolute max, he'll get a suspended sentence of some sort, but given his documented injuries and lack of evidence of abuse there's almost no way he'll do time.

Erik of Kalamazoo, Mich.

[Jeff Hardy art by Grant Gould (c) PWTorch]

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