Prescription Drug Abuse Battle in Nassau County Turns Deadly, Reaches Epidemic Proportions

"Tricks and treachery are the practice of fools, that don't have brains enough to be honest." Benjamin Franklin

Drug robberies have been stealing innocent lives in New York. Images courtesy: courant.com

(SEAFORD, NY) - Nassau County, New York has sounded the alarm -- they are experiencing a prescription drug abuse problem and are "taking the lead" in the nation and are forming an allegiance of sorts.

This joint effort is with Nassau County's Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Prevention Task Force, InfraGard (an FBI public/private partnership) as well as the Long Island Pharmacy Crimes Task Force to run a Pharmacist Security Summit on February 7, 2012.

The "partnership" was announced by Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice this week -- on the heels of a second deadly drug store robbery in a 6-month period on Long Island. “Prescription drug abuse has reached epidemic proportions nationwide. In Nassau County, we have felt first-hand the devastating effects of prescription drug abuse and will therefore take the lead in addressing this epidemic by implementing safety, awareness and educational initiatives for the public as well as local pharmacists,” stated County Executive Mangano.

“The rise in prescription drug abuse and the increasing boldness of addicts searching for a new source of pills makes this security summit a must-attend event for every Nassau County pharmacy,” District Attorney Rice said.

“It is incumbent upon law enforcement to provide whatever training, advice, and support we can to pharmacists and their employees.” The Pharmacist Security Summit will feature representatives from the Nassau County Police Department and Nassau County District Attorney’s Office.

District Attorney Rice will also address pending prosecutions of doctors and pharmacists accused of illegally dispensing prescription drugs and of individuals filling illegal prescriptions.

Deceased ATF Agent John Capano

Police and prosecutors will discuss their efforts investigating and deterring drug store robberies. An off-duty ATF agent was killed while trying to stop a man who had just robbed a Seaford pharmacy on New Year’s Eve.

The suspect was also fatally shot. That incident came after David Laffer killed four people while robbing a Medford, Long Island drug store of painkillers on Father’s Day in 2011. They will also address burglaries of local pharmacies for prescription drugs.

In addition, Suffolk County, NY officials announced they too have scheduled workshops with police and pharmacists through Purdue Pharma as well as raising Crime Stoppers rewards for information leading to arrests in drug store robberies.

A presentation will be delivered by representatives of Purdue Pharma, the makers of OxyContin. In addition to the February 7 summit, Purdue Pharma is offering a two hour closed door security training session for pharmacists on March 8.  Police are working with schools, parent organizations, doctors, dentists and other professional prescribers to raise awareness of the issue. Investigators have also created a list of vulnerable pharmacies.

In collaboration with Crime Stoppers programs throughout the country, Purdue Pharma L.P., in conjunction with RxPATROL, will donate up to $2,500 through local Crime Stoppers chapters for information leading to the arrest of those persons responsible for significant pharmacy crimes.

"Up to a $2,500 reward" -- coming from a $10 billion pharmaceutical company this token gesture almost seems ludicrous. In February 2010, I wrote an article about RX Patro,l which is funded by Purdue Pharma, and reported that the website had outdated information posted on it. It appears that in two years, my report still rings true -- information on the website is not current.

Something for Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice to consider as they sit through Purdue Pharma's "two hour closed door security training session" -- Purdue Pharma is on probation after pleading guilty in Federal Court in 2007 to criminally marketing OxyContin.

You know the same drug your pharmacies are being robbed of -- and the same drug that is killing and addicting people in every state in the country. So it appears that you have invited the "fox" into the "henhouse" to keep Long Island safe. Maybe you need to rethink this invitation.

Hopefully down the road, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and District Attorney Kathleen Rice wouldn't be dealing with an epidemic of home invasions on Long Island -- if that happens, they may want to consider contacting the California Department of Corrections and ask if Charles Manson would be available to run a training session on home invasion strategies. After all, he might be considered an expert in their eyes -- and he is a convicted felon just as Purdue Pharma is.

LP --  The bluebird of happiness had its roof raised and flew into the sunset -- all because a baby protocol monkey loves you.

Salem-News.com Reporter Marianne Skolek, is an Activist for Victims of OxyContin and Purdue Pharma throughout the United States and Canada. In July 2007, she testified against Purdue Pharma in Federal Court in Virginia at the sentencing of their three CEO's - Michael Friedman, Howard Udell and Paul Goldenheim - who pleaded guilty to charges of marketing OxyContin as less likely to be addictive or abused to physicians and patients. She also testified against Purdue Pharma at a Judiciary Hearing of the U.S. Senate in July 2007. Marianne works with government agencies and private attorneys in having a voice for her daughter Jill, who died in 2002 after being prescribed OxyContin, as well as the voice for scores of victims of OxyContin. She has been involved in her work for the past 8-1/2 years and is currently working on a book that exposes Purdue Pharma for their continued criminal marketing of OxyContin.

Marianne is a nurse having graduated in 1991 as president of her graduating class. She also has a Paralegal certification. Marianne served on a Community Service Board for the Courier News, a Gannet newspaper in NJ writing articles predominantly regarding AIDS patients and their emotional issues. She was awarded a Community Service Award in 1993 by the Hunterdon County, NJ HIV/AIDS Task Force in recognition of and appreciation for the donated time, energy and love in facilitating a Support Group for persons with HIV/AIDS.