Las Vegas Gambler Busted for $3 Million Online Drug Business

Christopher Holloway is from Raglan, Monmouthshire, in Wales, a town popular among tourists for the ruins of its 15^th century Raglan castle and Clearwell Caves. Holloway, however, was more interested in the tourist spots here in Las Vegas. A frequent visitor, Holloway was known for being a high roller with big bets and big money dropped on things like rented Lamborghini’s when he was in town.

To fund his high-end lifestyle, Holloway reportedly ran an online business worth more than $3 million providing customers with a “legal high.” According to the Daily Mail, however, the pills and powders that he sent to customers were far from legal. The substances found at his home were determined to be a range of banned chemicals and drugs.

Holloway’s customers numbered more than 12,000, according to reports, and lived all over the world. It is believed that Holloway imported these substances from China and India, and then sold them on his site, saying they were legal drugs.

In the course of the investigation, law enforcement seized more than $1 million in cash and ordered him to serve 10 years in jail.

Judge Phillip Richards, the presiding official in his case, told Holloway: “You showed an obvious desire to make money regardless of what harm it might cause to other people and society. There can be no doubt that your enjoyment of the proceeds ran into millions of pounds.”

At Any Expense

It is clear that drug dealers of all kinds, whether they are part of a South American drug cartel or a lone heavy gambler in the United Kingdom, prioritize money over the safety and wellbeing of others. Deaths and devastation to the lives of their customers make it difficult to see drug dealers as anything but monsters, but they are monsters that exist due to the insidious nature of addiction.

Regular use of drugs physically changes the brain. The size and shape of brain cells are altered, which in turn alters their function and how they communicate with other parts of the brain and the body. This can contribute to the personality changes that many family members notice in loved ones struggling with addiction. Compulsivity, or the uncontrollable urge to get high that pushes someone to continue using despite the risks and consequences, is one of those changes. It can take time to reverse these effects, but with dedication to recovery and time, it is possible to heal.

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Reversing Direction

With addiction, it is necessary to not just change course but to come to a full stop, fully turn around, and head in the opposite direction. This requires medical intervention and long-term therapeutic treatment. Though the physical withdrawal symptoms are a significant part of the experience and the first thing that must be addressed, it is necessary to follow up immediately with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and other therapies that will help the individual to better understand why addiction developed and learn how to avoid relapse in the future.

To that end, a number of foundational therapies are usually the starting point in recovery, providing a solid level of support to clients as they take those critical first steps in recovery. This usually includes:

Additionally, a range of alternative therapies can also prove to be immensely helpful. Music therapy, sports therapies, outdoors and adventure therapies, writing therapies, psychodrama, and cinema therapy – the list is endless, which provides endless opportunities for unique combinations to suit the needs of the individual.

Because recovery requires such a huge shift not only in behavior but also in perspective, it is recommended that throughout treatment, clients incorporate holistic treatment options into their daily and weekly schedules. These can serve to relieve stress associated with the transition process, improve rates of physical healing, and provide for an exploration of the spiritual and emotional aspect of recovery. Some popular holistic treatment options include:

All of these treatment services work together to help someone who is struggling due to addiction to make a complete and total shift in their focus and begin the journey toward a life of balance and personal safety that they deserve.