OxyContin Addict Accused of Violent Crime
A drug addiction can lead an individual to engage in activities they might otherwise find repulsive or unacceptable. For an Ottawa man, an OxyContin addiction produced a level of violence he would likely have never displayed without help from too much of the medication.
The Ottawa Citizen reported on the activities of Jamie Walsh, who recently shared openly about his addiction. He is considered to be a violent thug and spent eight years in prison for his role in a robbery and beating. One assistant Crown attorney suggested he was violent before he ever became hooked on opiates.
Walsh’s lawyer, however, maintains that Walsh is seeking to turn his life around and spending more time in the penitentiary would only inhibit his progress made in rehabilitation.
Walsh’s own mother is an official with the Harvest House rehabilitation center and she told the court that her son has made a significant turnaround in the 433 days he has been in the program.
One Mohamad Tohl was beaten and robbed in 2009, allegedly at the hands of Walsh. The accused claimed he and another man went to Tohl’s apartment to get drugs after they heard he had successfully robbed a pharmacy. He claims his accomplice was responsible for the beating.
A five year addiction to OxyContin has dominated life for Walsh, yet it wasn’t until his arrest and conversations with his lawyer that he admitted to having a problem and needing help. It is unclear as to what lies ahead for Walsh as his trial is still underway. The final outcome could find him removed from the Harvest House program to serve time.