ABUSE OF OXYCONTIN CREEPS INTO MILWAUKEE AREA

Forged Prescriptions, Death Of Teen Linked To Powerful Painkiller

While abuse of the prescription pain reliever OxyContin hasn't reached the
epidemic-like proportions in Milwaukee as it has in several eastern states,
officials said the trend seems to be slowly increasing.

Several area pharmacies, including ones in Wauwatosa, Glendale, Franklin
and Racine, have been the targets of robberies and forged prescriptions
involving OxyContin in the past four months. The latest OxyContin-related
incident involves the investigation of a Cudahy teen found dead of a
probable overdose on June 6.

"I'm aware that it is a growing problem in our area as well, and I think
the pharmacy thefts are an indication of that," said Francis Schmitz, chief
of criminal division at the U.S. attorney's office in Milwaukee. "Law
enforcement (officials) are being provided more information about this."

OxyContin tablets are time-released so the opiate oxycodone is released
into the bloodstream gradually. When the tablets are crushed, the time
release is destroyed, and abusers who either inhale or inject the drug
receive an intended 12-hour dosage at once.

"When you take the time-release away, it's going to be so potent if you
inject or snort it, which makes it very dangerous," said Mari Hang,
coordinator of assessment and referral for Impact Alcohol and Other Drug
Abuse Services Inc. in Milwaukee.

Hang said the problem isn't huge right now but is becoming bigger. She said
she's seen a moderate increase in the number of people addicted to
OxyContin, most of whom are addicted to other drugs as well. Hang said
OxyContin abuse seems to be most popular with people in their 20s to 40s.

The Drug Enforcement Administration in Milwaukee has seen an increase in
the number of thefts or loss reports of OxyContin, said diversion
investigator Mike Grafton.

At Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa, however, the
emergency medicine department has not seen any OxyContin overdoes, said
assistant professor Chris Decker.

Hang said Milwaukee seems slow in discovering drug trends.

"We find out things last sometimes," she said.

"Before the incident (of the Cudahy death), I'd never even heard of
OxyContin," said Sgt. Randy Scheel of the Cudahy Police Department. "It's
possible it's becoming the drug of choice, but I don't know for sure. It's
new to me, too."