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Why Not Legalize All Drugs?

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We are undoubtedly in the midst of one of the most devastating drug abuse eras the United States has ever seen. Heroin by itself or, more likely, laced with fentanyl or carfentanil, along with pharmaceutical opioids, is causing thousands of overdoses across our country each year. Nasal naloxone has saved an incredible number of these overdose victims.

When drug problems intensify, the cry goes out that we have lost the war on drugs and our best way out to stop all of the death and destruction is to legalize drugs and let the government reap the profits in the form of taxes. It sounds simple: legalize all drugs, the prices will drop, the associated killing and violence will go away, and we will all live happily ever after. We can use the increase in tax revenues to build highways and roads or to fund other important projects. [Read more…]

The Prince Frenzy

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Much of the turmoil over the death of Prince has subsided, but the news about his death and the public’s response have been interesting, especially when it was revealed that fentanyl and other controlled substances were determined to be part of the cause of death. Individuals who villainize all opiate medications and call for greater prescribing controls came out of the woodwork again.

My view all along, as the prescribing pendulum of controlled substances swings from high to low, is to try to achieve balance. Remember that the vast majority of prescribers are incredibly honest and primarily prescribe these medications to patients with legitimate pain. Therefore, it’s amazing to me that, for the sake of the 10% to 15% of individuals to whom these medications are prescribed and who abuse them, we are willing to drastically reduce prescribing. In some cases, physicians promote the “suck it up” approach, encouraging no prescribing of opiates, no matter the pain level. [Read more…]

Talking Substance Abuse with the Drug Czar

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I had the great pleasure of being able to have a sit down with our nation’s drug czar, Michael Botticelli. Mr. Botticelli is the head of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP), informally our nation’s current drug czar.

The ONDCP also oversees the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTAs), of which my task force is an Ohio HIDTA initiative. The Ohio HIDTA director was gracious enough to bring Mr. Botticelli to my covert task force to discuss current drug enforcement happenings. This was an incredible opportunity for me to meet with a person who sits at the highest level in Washington, DC, and likely has the most influence on the overall policies that impact our task force on a daily basis. His job must be overwhelming because he is responsible for everything from the flow of heroin from Mexico to the abuse of pharmaceuticals. [Read more…]

Drug Diversion and Abuse: Nasal Naloxone and Law Enforcement

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The issues and concerns about the deaths surrounding prescription drug abuse need no introduction. In Ohio and many other states, the unintentional overdose deaths due to pharmaceuticals accounts for more than fatal traffic accidents and more than the deaths associated with cocaine and heroin combined. When the number 1 substance of abuse for 12- to 17-year-olds is also prescription drugs, the potential for this age group to overdose and die due to abuse is real.

Many of us do our best to combat this problem, with great television and radio ads, printed prevention material, educational sessions, websites, and personal talks with our own kids and grandkids. Everything has been tried from the soft approach to providing grim statistics and videos of those involved in substance abuse. The DARE program has been in business for decades now, targeting our younger children inside the schools with visits from police officers who are dedicated to trying to prevent drug abuse. [Read more…]

How BIG is the problem?

Year after year, state and local law enforcement statistics indicate that pharmaceuticals are almost 30% of the overall drug problem in the United States, running a close second only marijuana abuse. However, until recently, law enforcement, health care professionals, and the general public have placed little emphasis on this huge problem.

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About PDE

Pharmaceutical Diversion Education (PDE) is designed to assist a wide range of the population in understanding the potential abuse and addiction that can be associated with prescription medication.

Drug Diversion:
Any Criminal Act Involving a Prescription Drug.

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