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Joseph Valdez's Last Year

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 3, 2008

Joseph Valdez used narcotics for more than a decade before he died of an overdose in April 2007. He was 32. Here are selected dates from a timeline of his quest for drugs in the months before his death.

May 8, 2006: Valdez visits a pain specialist. He obtains a prescription for the muscle relaxer Flexeril.

May 18: He visits a pain clinic, complaining of back pain.

May 22: He obtains the painkiller oxycodone and the muscle relaxer Soma.

May 25: Valdez goes to St. Joseph's for chest pains.

May 27: He goes to the Hillsborough County Crisis Center.

June 15: Valdez visits a pain specialist and gets oxycodone and Flexeril.

July 5: After a suicide attempt in which he took an estimated 80 Flexeril pills, Valdez goes to St. Joseph's.

July 17: He visits the pain specialist. He says he is taking oxycodone four times daily. He obtains Flexeril and oxycodone.

July 18: Valdez is admitted to St. Joseph's. He had taken 96 Flexeril and ingested cocaine.

Aug. 1: Valdez is admitted to St. Joseph's again. He says he was hit by a car, a doctor writes.

Aug. 4: Valdez goes to the emergency room at University Community Hospital Carrollwood. He says he has chest pains.

Aug. 5: He goes to Hillsborough County Crisis Center.

Aug. 14: Valdez goes to St. Joseph's. He says he had a small overdose of heroin.

Sept. 1: He starts outpatient treatment at Family Services of Pinellas.

Sept. 2: He goes to St. Joseph's and is taken to Springbrook Hospital.

Sept. 29: He leaves Springbrook and obtains a prescription for six drugs from a psychiatrist.

Oct. 3: He goes to the crisis center and is then admitted to St. Joseph's after an overdose, possibly heroin.

Oct. 7: He is taken back to St. Joseph's with chest pain.

Oct. 26: He returns to St. Joseph's.

Jan. 9, 2007: He obtains Xanax using a prescription from the psychiatrist.

Jan. 11: Wearing a knee brace, he visits a partner of his primary care doctor. The doctor says to continue oxycodone and Xanax as needed, then prescribes 14 Soma.

Feb. 5: He undergoes an MRI at Memorial Hospital for a knee injury.

Feb. 7: Valdez visits an orthopedic surgeon for his knee. The surgeon prescribes oxycodone but no refills.

Feb. 12: He visits his primary care doctor seeking an oxycodone refill. The doctor notes he is dependent on narcotics and prescribes Soma and oxycodone.

Feb. 21: Valdez is taken to St. Joseph's, where he says he overdosed on 20 Soma pills and 20 Vicodin, a pain reliever.

March 27: Valdez visits his primary care doctor's partner. He obtains oxycodone, Xanax and Soma.

April 4: He is taken to St. Joseph's Hospital for a Xanax overdose.

April 23: He is released from St. Joseph's. He obtains a Soma refill.

April 24: Valdez shows the MRI of his knee to the pain clinic doctor. He obtains Soma, oxycodone and Xanax.

April 24: He is found passed out at friend's house and is declared dead at St. Joseph's.

Sources: medical records, pharmacy records, billing statements, Tampa Fire Rescue records

VALDEZ'S LAST YEAR

Joseph Valdez used narcotics for more than a decade before he died of an overdose in April 2007. He was 32. Here are selected dates from a timeline of his quest for drugs in the months before his death.

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