Dispensing OxyContin Opens Pharmacies and Staff to Risk of Robbery
More Americans are taking highly addictive painkillers such as OxyContin than ever before. The Associated Press reported that sales of five major pain killers jumped by 90 percent from 1995 to 2007. Comedian Daniel Tosh of the show Tosh.O says that laughter is the best medicine, aside from OxyContin. But, OxyContin addictions have turned ugly and are definitely no laughing matter.
OxyContin dependence is driving addicts to rob pharmacies in order to feed their prescription drug addictions. It's gotten so bad that many pharmacies have had no choice but to let their customers know that they will no longer be carrying the drug. That speaks volumes because profits from OxyContin are very lucrative due to the extreme mark-up and red tape involved in tracking prescriptions.
So just how bad is the problem? The Daily Health Report online cites that there have been at least 1800 incidences of robbery at pharmacies across the nation over the past three years where OxyContin was the main attraction. And, according to the Associated Press, these crimes continue to increase.
In fact, Ohio had 32 cases of armed pharmacy robberies in 2007, but by 2008, that number had increased to 68. Oklahoma jumped from one case to 19 in the period from 2007 to 2009, and similar crimes in Alabama are also climbing. The government doesn't specifically track pharmacy robberies so it's difficult to say with certainty exactly how many such crimes have occurred throughout the country over the past several years.
There are a number of reasons why a person would want to steal OxyContin. The body reacts very similarly to OxyContin as it does heroin, so it is extremely addictive. Aside from addiction, OxyContin is an especially profitable street drug. Pills fetch upwards of $60 each on the black market. And, because the sentence does not fit the crime, there isn't much to deter someone from stealing the drug. Currently, the minimum sentence for this type of robbery is three months - hardly a slap on the wrist.
Several measures have been put in place to help deter this sort of theft. Purdue Pharma, who introduced the drug in 1995, is providing police officers with free training on how to properly investigate such cases. Lawmakers are seeking stiffer penalties for theft - from three months to three years. In some states, pharmacy staff can request to be escorted to their vehicles after hours by a member of law enforcement.
Pharmacists are also being trained how to respond to burglars' requests, but some are taking matters into their own hands. In San Antonio, Texas, pharmacists can carry guns to protect their health and well-being. In fact, San Antonio pharmacist Bill Wynn shot and killed an armed burglar demanding pills in May 2009. Similar cases have been reported in other states as well.
OxyContin can be deadly - those who use it and those who dispense it are in danger. Drug abuse awareness advocates are calling for stronger restrictions on the drug and for it to be reserved only for cancer patients and those experiencing severe pain. It should not be prescribed as a general pain killer as tens of thousands are now addicted. The solution isn't training our pharmacy staff how to react to these burglaries while the drug companies watch and get rich. Rather, the federal government should get involved in the root of the problem - prevention.