AUTHORITIES CRACK DOWN ON NEW DRUG IN KENTUCKY

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) -- Reacting to the "epidemic" spread of a deadly
new drug, authorities fanned out across eastern Kentucky on Tuesday to
begin rounding up hundreds of suspected dealers.

"It is the largest raid in the history of the commonwealth of
Kentucky," said U.S. Attorney Joseph Famularo. "Nearly all of the
arrests involved OxyContin."

The drug, known on the streets as Oxy or OC, is a prescription
medication used primarily by cancer victims and others suffering from
severe, constant pain.

Eastern Kentucky is one of the nation's first regions where the drug
has caught on, replacing cocaine and methamphetamines as the drug of
choice. Famularo said at least 59 people have died from overdoses in
eastern Kentucky in the past year.

"The abuse and availability of OxyContin has become such an epidemic,"
Famularo said. "Unfortunately, many young people abuse OCs, some with
disastrous results."

Authorities have alerted hospitals to be ready for an onslaught of
people suffering withdrawal from the prescription pain killer.

Famularo said 155 people have been indicted in state court in Fayette,
Pike, Clay and Perry counties, and an additional 52 in U.S. District
Court in Pikeville. Federal and state authorities were still rounding
up the accused dealers and users as of Tuesday afternoon. Famularo
said he doesn't think any of them are physicians.

"This massive effort is designed to render a significant blow to the
illegal distribution of OxyContin and other similar prescription drugs
in eastern Kentucky," Famularo said. "We are hopeful that the public
becomes more educated in this problem and joins in these community
efforts to combat this epidemic."

Last week, the Harlan County Sheriff's Department arrested a physician
accused of illegally prescribing the medication to patients. Ali
Sawaf, 59, of Harlan, was charged with six counts of illegally
prescribing drugs, three counts of bribery of a public servant, three
counts of intimidating a witness and two counts of being a persistent
felony offender. All are felony charges.

Purdue Pharma of Norwalk, Conn., released the drug in 1996.
Authorities say the drug can produce a high close to heroin.

Cindy Rieker, assistant commonwealth's attorney in Fayette County,
said some people were driving from the eastern Kentucky counties to
Lexington to fill prescriptions for the drug.

Famularo said he doesn't foresee a push by law enforcement to have the
drug taken off the market. He said OxyContin is a legitimate drug for
people who need it.

Hazard Police Chief Rob Maggard said the drug is especially popular
among young people. He said when he realized that, he sought help from
state and federal law enforcement agencies.

"Had this been dyptheria or small pox, we'd have been quarantined from
the rest of the state," he said. "It's become a terrible epidemic."

OxyContin pills contain a synthetic morphine designed to be time
released. Abusers crush the pills into powder and snort it up their
noses, or dilute it and inject into their veins.

The pills sell illegally for $1 a milligram, according to the U.S.
Attorney's office.