PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE LEADS TO ADDICTION

When the supply runs out, those addicted to prescription drugs sometimes
resort to whatever it takes - legally or illegally - to get more. Sometimes
those who are not hooked on prescription drugs, but sell them illegally
also do whatever it takes to get them, said Brantly Bishop, who heads the
prescription drug division of the Etowah County Drug Task Force. Bishop is
a Hokes Bluff police officer assigned to work on the task force under the
direction of Sheriff James Hayes. The prescription drugs most often abused
are forms of hydrocodone, which is Lorcet, Lortab and Tuss-DS syrup, Bishop
said. Bishop said he also sees some forged prescriptions for drugs such as
Klonopin and Valium. "The pills and liquid narcotics are big business," he
said. Bishop works closely with pharmacies to fight forged prescriptions,
but recently has seen an increase in cases. Arrests in the last two weeks
include a woman and her husband and a former pharmacy technician. Steven
Thompson, 43, and Paula Hassell Thompson, 43, both of 7940 Rocky Ford Road,
Hokes Bluff, are facing charges of unlawful possession of a controlled
substance by fraud. On Feb. 1, Steven Thompson was arrested for attempting
to pass a forged prescription at the same local pharmacy his wife was
suspected of passing a forged prescription at earlier. He was charged with
a felony for a forged prescription from November 2001 and with attempting
to commit a controlled substance crime, which also is a felony, Bishop
said. Paula Thompson was arrested Feb. 6 at her residence for allegedly
passing forged prescriptions at the local pharmacy where her husband had
been arrested. A 22-year-old former pharmacy technician was arrested Monday
after he allegedly posed as a pharmacist from one drug store and called
another drug store to transfer a prescription. Seth Michael Barber, 910
South Sixth St., was charged with two counts of obtaining narcotics by
calling in prescriptions at local pharmacies. Narcotics also were found on
Barber when he was arrested, which led to the other charge, according to
reports. A DeKalb County man was arrested Tuesday for allegedly passing
forged prescriptions at two local pharmacies. Rickie Satterfield, 47, of
Crossville was charged with two counts of unlawful possession of a
controlled substance. Bishop said that nine of 10 who forge prescriptions
in Etowah County are caught. "If it was not for the great working
relationship with all the pharmacists, pharmacies and doctors in Etowah
County, we would not have such success catching these people," he said.
Because the task force has a close working relationship with pharmacies,
forged prescription cases in Gadsden usually also are worked by the task
force, Gadsden police Lt. Wayne Ragan said. Anyone who has information
about forged prescriptions or illegal prescription drug use can call Bishop
at 549-5465 or the tip line at 543-2893.