Former Angels employee Eric Kay charged with distributing fentanyl in Tyler Skaggs case

LA Times ^ | Aug 7 2020 | Nathan Fenno

[texas booster]

Former Angels employee Eric Kay has been charged by federal authorities in Texas with distributing fentanyl in connection with the overdose death of pitcher Tyler Skaggs.

A toxicology report by the Tarrant County medical examiner found the opioids fentanyl and oxycodone in his system. The medical examiner listed the cause of death as “alcohol, fentanyl and oxycodone intoxication with terminal aspiration of gastric contents,” meaning he choked on his vomit.

Inside Skaggs’ hotel room, authorities found white powder on the floor and a blue pill marked “M/30.” Both tested positive for fentanyl.

The affidavit said the blue pill had the appearance of a “legitimate prescription 30 milligram oxycodone tablet,” but that the presence of fentanyl “indicates that the pill was counterfeit.”

[texas booster]

In response to Skaggs’ death, Major League Baseball and the players union agreed to a new drug-testing policy beginning with the 2020 season. The policy calls for treatment, not suspension, of players who test positive for opioids or other drugs of abuse. It also declassifies marijuana as a drug of abuse.

Under the new policy, players are tested regularly for opioids, fentanyl, cocaine and synthetic tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Major leaguers previously were tested for opioids or marijuana only when team or league officials had reasonable cause.

The league and players union also established mandatory educational programs examining the “dangers of opioid pain medications and practical approaches to marijuana.”

[texas booster]

There is no end to the stupidity of those on narcotics.

As expected, no other players suspected a thing, and are as shocked as anyone ... blah, blah, blah.

And MLB’s response, in conjunction with the union, is to decriminalize marijuana and establish an antidrug training program.

There are none so blind as those who are willfully blind.

[VanShuyten]

“... the blue pill had the appearance of a “legitimate prescription 30 milligram oxycodone tablet,” but that the presence of fentanyl “indicates that the pill was counterfeit.”

Chicom dope, no doubt.

[kaehurowing]

You mean the drug that was in George Floyd’s system?

[Junk Silver]

“Erin Nealy Cox, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Texas, said ...“It should prove to his many, many fans that no one is immune from the deadly addictive nature of these drugs, whether sold as a powder or hidden inside an innocuous-looking tablet.”

I’m so tired of hearing this f’ing nonsense. If you don’t take fentanyl you are 100% immune from its “deadly addictive nature”. Skaggs was a drug abuser who overdosed. While its not a bad idea to punish the dealer who sold him the drugs, Skaggs was responsible for his own choices.

[shortstop]

Eric Kay is or was Director of Communications for the Angels.