STATE ADDS TO ARSENAL FOR FIGHTING PRESCRIPTION DRUG CRIME

The S.C. Pharmacy Association announced a partnership Wednesday with a
national information clearinghouse to expand protection against prescription
theft and fraud.

In October, the association launched RxAlert, a program that allows
state pharmacies to share information regarding crimes, from store
theft to illegitimate prescriptions to prescription shopping, getting
a prescription filled more than once at different locations.

Since the association started the program, which basically exchanges
detailed information between stores via fax or e-mail, more than 275
incidents have been registered.

On Tuesday, association officials announced the program would join
forces with RxPATROL, an organization that performs many of the same
functions on a national level.

"The partnership with RxPATROL expands the reach of RxAlert to the
pharmacy community in neighboring states, which is particularly
important when dealing with criminals who cross state lines," said Jim
Bracewell, the Pharmacy Association's executive vice president.

Wilbur Harling, Bureau of Drug Control director for the state
Department of Health and Environmental Control, said prescription drug
crime is a growing problem in South Carolina.

"We've experienced a 20 percent increase in the number of crimes this
year over last year," he said. "When you say 'drugs,' most people
think of cocaine or heroin. But increasingly, prescription drugs are
becoming a problem."

Harling said there were 500 prescription drug crimes in the state last
year, 85 percent of which dealt with fraudulent prescriptions. He said
the agency has not tracked how many arrests have resulted from RxAlert.

He did say plans were under way to begin collecting those numbers
immediately.

State Attorney General Henry McMaster attended the news conference
Tuesday and praised the private agencies for stepping in to help law
enforcement.

"The drug problem in this country is way too big for law enforcement
to fight it alone," he said. "We don't have the budgets or officers
needed. But if the public can do things like this, if they can be the
eyes and ears of law enforcement, then we can get rid of these crimes."