MEDICATIONS LED TO STUDENT'S DEATH

OCALA - Al and Sue Milton continue to seek answers on why their late
son began taking the prescription narcotic hydrocodone, a generic form
of Vicodin a medical examiner says was the leading cause of the honor
student's death. They never knew Drew Milton was taking prescription
medications obtained illegally. All they knew was the University of
Florida freshman made straight As and always seemed happy.

"He made great decisions 99 percent of the time," Sue Milton said this
week. "We had no idea he was using prescription drugs, and I think
people in this community need to know that abuse of these type drugs
has reached our children."

Hydrocodone was one of four prescription drugs - besides Benadryl and
alcohol - found in Drew Milton's blood stream. The 18-year-old
pharmacy worker died in his sleep at his parents' Ocala home on June
2.

Dr. Julia Martin of the Medical Examiner's Office in Leesburg ruled
earlier this month Drew Milton died of "intoxication by the combined
effects of hydrocodone and methadone," a narcotic used to treat heroin
addicts.

Martin said the amount of hydrocodone in his blood was at a toxic
level, while the methadone level was consistent with therapeutic
usage. A toxicologist also found therapeutic levels of the generic
form of Valium and the anti-depressant Citalopram - the only drug that
had been prescribed to Drew Milton.

Drew Milton's death fits into an alarming trend across Florida. Last
year, for the first time in Florida history, more people died from
prescription medications than illegal drugs, according to a report
from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Deaths among methadone users rose by 71 percent in 2001, while deaths
of among hydrocodone and oxycodone users combined rose by 45 percent,
the report states.

Prescription drug addiction once was considered only a problem among
people over 30 who were prescribed the pain killers.

"It's now becoming a problem with teen-agers," Sue Milton
said.

Bruce Goldberger, director of toxicology and associate professor at
the University of Florida, tested Drew Milton's blood. He agreed with
Martin's ruling but said the death may have occurred even if
hydrocodone had not been at a toxic level.

"When you have all these drugs in your system at one time, it could be
fatal, even if all were being used therapeutically," said Goldberger.
"These combinations can be very dangerous."

Goldberger said all the drugs found in the blood had been taken within
24 hours of his death. In urine tests, which detect drug usage for
longer periods, amphetamines and lidocaine - an anesthetic - were also
found.

Drew Milton worked at Franck's Pharmacy the day before his death. He
came home, took a nap and later awoke to watch television with his
sister. After drinking a glass a wine, he noticed a rash and treated
it with Benadryl.

Ocala police Detective Doug Ellzey said the investigation revealed
that no known doctor prescribed hydrocodone or methadone to Drew
Milton. An inventory of Franck's Pharmacy's hydrocodone and methadone
supply revealed none of those drugs were missing, Ellzey said.

Paul Franck, chief executive officer of Franck's Pharmacy and Home
Care in Ocala, refused to comment on whether Drew Milton had access to
the drugs.

"We have not found the source of where he may have gotten the drugs or
found anyone who knew he had taken the drugs before his death," said
Ellzey, adding the case was closed last week and ruled an accidental
overdose.

"We have no idea where he got these drugs from," said Sue Milton. "We
even talked to his friends, members of his fraternity, and no one
seems to know that he was using them. We do hope we find out where he
got these drugs."

Meanwhile, officials with the Marion County Sheriff's Office drug unit
contend abuse of prescription drugs - especially oxycodone,
hydrocodone and methadone - has increased.

"We have seen many prescription fraud cases, involving mainly
OxyContin," Lt. Lee Sullivan said of the popular narcotic pain killer
and first cousin of hydrocodone. "We are seeing more and more cases
involving prescription medication."

Of 34 deaths last year in the medical examiner's 5th district, which
includes Marion County, three people who overdosed on methadone and
hydrocodone were between the ages of 16 and 25, while 18 were between
the ages of 35 and 50, the reports states.

Those numbers are still below the state's per capita
average.