PAINKILLING PATCH OFFERS ABUSERS THE LATEST FIX

Rash Of Arrests And Deaths In Capital Region Linked To Fentanyl

When Watervliet Police Sgt. Edward Watson learned a man was arrested
for allegedly selling a fentanyl pain patch to undercover officers,
his heart sank. It was another indicator that the prescription drug
is gaining a foothold in the city.

In recent months, authorities across the Capital Region have seen a
rash of arrests and fatal overdoses related to fentanyl, a
prescription pain patch used for everything from back trouble to
cancer pain management.

Fentanyl, a narcotic pain medicine, has up to 80 times more potency
than morphine or heroin. The patch is used to deliver pain relief
over 72 hours. When abused, it can be very dangerous, Watson said.

"People suck on the patches," he said. "When you take it orally, you
have no idea how much is getting into your system. These patches are
loaded with all sorts of narcotics."

Some abusers cut the patches into quarters and put them on different
parts of the body to get an increased effect.

Within the past four months, there have been two deaths in Watervliet
attributed to the painkiller, according to Watson.

"In the one case, in the future I'm sure we will have an arrest for
negligent homicide," said Watson, who declined to name the victims
who had died.

In the other death, the victim "got the prescription legally through
a doctor and misused it and died."

On Wednesday, Daniel McGillivary of First Avenue in Watervliet was
charged with third-degree drug sale, a felony, after the undercover sting.

There have been four fentanyl-related deaths in Albany County in the
past year, and one in Rensselaer County.

One was intoxicated by numerous drugs "with the patch still on," said
Jennifer Alibozek, senior medico legal death investigator in
Rensselaer County. "There are two more cases pending with a past
history of fentanyl abuse."

In some cases, the person for whom the drug was prescribed abuses the
drug. In other cases, those with a prescription make money selling
the patch to drug addicts.

The Capital Region activity mirrors a national trend. Since January,
hundreds of deaths across the country have been attributed to
fentanyl, which is sometimes disguised as heroin.

Fentanyl-laced heroin has been blamed for more than 200
overdose-related deaths in recent months, including dozens in the
Chicago and Pittsburgh areas.

"I talked to detectives in Pittsburgh, it's really bad there," said
Investigator Emanuel Shulman, who works in Guilderland, where there
has also been one death.

"I wouldn't call it an epidemic. More people die of heroin overdoses
than any other drug," Shulman said. "If you get into serious drugs,
it's just a question of when."

For now, fentanyl seems to have taken the place of drugs such as
oxycontin, a potent narcotic that was popular on the streets about
five years ago before being heavily regulated.

"There is that group of people that are just always going to abuse
drugs," Shulman said.

Despite the risks, fentanyl is a necessary part of some people's daily lives.

"For pain relief, fentanyl is a wonderful drug," Shulman said. "It's
just not designed to be chewed."