Prescription Drug Use out The Roof in North Carolina

Precription drug abuse is a common trend across the United States and Detective Sergeant Kip Dennis covered factors behind this trend and potential solutions to address the drug abuse.

Though marijuana remains the number one abused illegal drug in the county, prescription drugs have passed cocaine and taken over the number two spot.  Dennis says, "Our pill problem is out the roof."  In 2005, the Sheriff's department seized 1,312 illegal pills.  Compare that to 10,102 in 2006 and the trend becomes frighteningly real.  As an additional point, that number does not include 3,500 pill stolen from pharmacies during the same year.  The number of cases involving prescription drugs increased 7X from 2005 to 2006.  

At the Forum, Moore County District Attorney reported that 99% of all felonies are related to drugs.  When considering the reasons behind the increase in prescription drug abuse, Dennis had his speculation.  The first factor was a general over-treatment of pain.  Medical doctors freely prescribe pain medication for fear of being sued by patients.  Second, prescription drugs are readily available.  These can easily be found in the family medicine cabinet.  Third, it appears that prescription drug use is more socially acceptable than cocaine or heroin use and doesn't carry with it the stigma of those drugs.

Dennis felt that what is not realized by most is the risk of death associated with prescription drugs.  Abuse has led to an increase in death with people thinking that because it came from a pharmacy it must be safe.  They don't realize the danger of the body building up a tolerance and then requiring more drugs.  Also, when these prescription drugs are used in conjunction with alcohol, the risks are even higher.

Fortunately, there is a new law which will link pharmacy computers so pharmacists can detect and report "doctor shopping."  However, on-line pharmacies remain readily available to fill prescriptions.  Earlier this year, the Drug Enforcement Agency concluded an 18 month investigation into a North Carolina on-line pharmacy.  Four suspects were arrested and 4.2 million in assets was seized.  One pharmacy down, who knows how many to go.

When it comes to the young people of the community, prescription drug use is now the fad.  According to the DEA web site, local North Carolina news reports "Pharm Parties" where high school student exchange or sell Attention Deficit Disorder drugs (like Ritalin or Adderall, which are of the same classification as cocaine) or whatever can be taken from the family medicine cabinet.

This is no small issue, whether for a young person or an adult.  Prescription drug abuse must be addressed head on with effective drug rehab.  Contact www.drugrehabreferral.com for information on this trend and what can be done to find a good drug rehab.