North Naples woman arrested for prescription fraud

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NORTH NAPLES, Fla. – A woman is under arrest for prescription drug fraud in what Collier County deputies described as one of the worst cases they’ve ever seen.

Kelley Noyes, 44, is accused of visiting at least 10 doctor’s offices within Southwest Florida in one month. The doctors all gave her a prescription for a cough syrup containing the narcotic hydrocodone.

“It’s a very powerful drug and it’s very addictive,” said Brenda Iliff, executive director at Hazelden, a drug rehab center in Naples. “It’s in a class of drugs called opioids, you may have heard of opium, which is connected with heroin. They’re in the same type of class of drugs and the brain reacts in the same ways as opioids and heroin.”

According to Noyes’ arrest report, she would tell each doctor that she wasn’t in the care of another doctor which ultimately got her in trouble.

Deputies were tipped off when an urgent care in Estero called them and said Noyes visited them nine times in less than a year, seeking the medicine.

“It’s very concerning. We’re seeing a huge opioid addiction concern in Collier and Lee counties,” said Iliff.

Noyes even admitted to one doctor that she had a problem.

“Sometimes people are just so desperate they might say they have a problem, but they don’t even know how to seek help. But if it’s an opioid concern, the first thing they really need is detox,” said Iliff.

Noyes is a former fourth grade teacher at the Village School in North Naples. Our partners at the News-Press said Noyes submitted her resignation at the school citing personal reasons.

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