A startling statistic coming out of Columbus County; the rural county dispenses the most prescription drugs in the entire state on a per capita basis.
Columbus County Sheriff Chris Batten said prescription drug trafficking has well-surpassed the county's cocaine and marijuana problem.
When prescribed properly, Percosets can be an effective pain killer, but for drug users, they're an instant high.
"They'll crush it into a powder form, either ingest it, or sniff it, so it gets into the blood stream faster, and creates a very very active personality in those people,” Sheriff Batten said.
The county is facing the largest prescription drug trafficking problem it has ever seen. Since January, twelve people have died in the county as a result of abusing prescription drugs.
Sheriff Batten says the problem starts in the doctor’s offices. "My physician does not prescribe any medication unless he gives me a full exam on me for the problem I am complaining about."
If dealers and users can't get them from the doctor, they're going to the pharmacy.
"If you look around town, most pharmacies have bars on them now. There is a reason for that. It's gotten to be such a problem,” said Danny McNeill, Baldwin Woods pharmacy owner.
Most of the time, pharmacist Danny McNeill says they're looking for drugs like Fentanyl and Oxycontin. He says he gets suspicious when a customer tries to refill their prescription early.
The law states prescriptions can only be filled on or after the refill date, so when someone insists on getting theirs early, it raises a flag they may be trying to distribute the drugs illegally.
And for the people who legitimately need these medications, McNeill says educating them is important too. "I try to explain to them that people are going to try and buy those medications, or steal them. That you need to keep them under wraps, and to not even let folks know that you have it."
Sheriff Batten has compiled a list of medical professionals whose names keep popping up as having dispersed pills to users in the community. Batten hopes to put together a task force to launch an investigation into these doctors and pharmacists.
NO WAY
WEED IS NOT WHAT WE NEED. IT IS A GATEWAY ONE THAT I TOOK BEFORE I CAME TO KNOW JESUS.IT CAN CARRY YOU IN THE WRONG WAY ONE DAY YOU WILL GET TIRED OF TRYIN TO GET HIGH OFF OF IT THERE ARE 37 GUYS HERE FOR TEN WEEKS.WHAT GOT THEM HERE? THE SAME THING THAT GOT ME WHERE I USE TO BE.I STARTED SMOKING WEED AND DRINKING.BUT AFTER AWHILE THAT WAS NOT GOING TO DO IT TRUST ME ASK THESE 37 GUYS THATS HERE AND THEY WILL TELL YOU THE SAME THING
THIS IS THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT IT
(1 PETER 5:8,9)BE SOBER BE VIGILANT;BECAUSE YOUR ADVERSARY THE DEVIL WALKS AROUND LIKE ROARING LION SEEKING WHOM he MAY DEVOUR.RESIST HIM STEADFAST IN THE FAITH,KNOWING THAT THE SAME SUFFERINGS ARE EXPERIENCED BY YOUR BROTHERHOOD IN THE WORLD. IF I MAKE YOU WHOM READS THIS I AM SORRY THIS NOT MY OBJECTIVE.
TRAVIS
Saying Marijuana is a
Saying Marijuana is a gateway to harder drugs is like saying birth is a gateway to serial killer, because everyone who has ever been a serial killer was born. Of course everyone who has done harder drugs has smoked weed, because EVERYONE has smoked weed once, or at least a large portion of the American population in the last 60 years. How about the millions of people who smoked weed and never did anything beyond it?
SAFER
Marijuana problem??? That is actually a solution. Decriminalization would give people a safe legal outlet so you don't have to go to your medicine cabinet (or the neighbors) to get high. Fear of prosecution due to use of a safe drug, is driving this behavior. Prescription drugs and alcohol abuse are rampant, dangerous trends in our society. Give the people a solution! Not more prosecution. Tens of thousands of people die from prescription drugs and alcohol abuse, even more from violence stemming from that behavior. How many from marijuana? Zero. Nationwide. No deaths, no violent crimes.
www.saferchoice.org
I'm all for legalization, but....
...that won't help in this case. You don't grasp the economics of Columbus County.
A LOT of these people are on Medicaid. Even legal pot would still cost them money. Prescription drugs are free. (Free to them, of course. The taxpayers get raked over the coals.)
dont target the doctors..
I get it, you dont want people to do stupid things so you think you can stop them....its Columbus County! Do you have any idea how many people have poppys growing in their back yard around here? do some research and you'll find out how easy it is to accomodate the need for a high. and hey, it works out pretty well cause you dont have to goto the doctor or pharmacy..just the health store or arts and crafts store for the poppy pods! theyre oh so pretty and theyre oh so good when you milk them!
Well
at least they have not tried to lay this problem at R C Soles' feet.
IT'S ABOUT TIME
Alot of my own family members have destroyed their lives with prescription meds...its seems impossible for them to get a grip...their neighbors sell them for $3.00 to $5.00 per pill...they visit the emergency room sometimes 3 to 4 times a week...and if thats not enough they will rob homes in search of pills...its big money and big misery...i blame the doctors first...then anybody who swallows whatever the doctors give to them with no questions asked...do your research on meds and think about it long and hard or you could end up the same as these addicts...my cousin has 4 children and both her and the husband are hooked and losing their home...they are staying with the in-laws and are worse off now than ever...they now have more extra money to buy more pills!...its a very vicious cycle...whats worse is that the kids are mentally breaking down too...Columbus County Child Protective Services were called in and they are a joke...they family is worse off now than when social services got involved.
HELP*WHAT CAN WE DO
THE DRUG OVER DUSE RATE IS VERY HIGH IN THE US I HAVE LOOKED INTO IT PLUS I HAVE BEEN THERE I USED TO STAY IN LAKE WACCAMAW I AM NOW IN BOONE NC. I WORK FOR A PLACE CALLED HEBRON COLONY MINISTRIES IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO NO MORE ABOUT THIS PLACE HERE IS THE WEB SITE WWW.HEBRONCOLONY.ORG .PILLS HAVE TOOK OVER THIS IS A SERIUS MATTER IT KILLS MORE AND MORE EVERY DAY. I PREY FOR THIS EVERY DAY THAT SOME HOW WE CAN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM WHAT CAN WE DO? WE CAN CRACK DOWN ON THE DOCTORS FOR ONE AS CRIS BATTEN SAID IN HIS WRITEUP ON THIS. TWO WE CAN START TO UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE KILLING PEP AND BRAKING UP RELATION SHIPS THIS PROBLEM DESTROYS HOUSEHOLDS ITS IN THE SCHOOL SYSTEMS ITS ON THE JOBS ITS EVERY WERE WE HAVE GOT TO CRACK DOWN ON THIS AND DO SOMETHING IF THERE IS ANYTHING I CAN DO TO HELP PLEAS FELL FREE TO LET ME KNOW THAT I CAN DO.
THANK YOU"FROM TRAVIS