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Colo. 2nd in Nation for Prescription Painkiller Abuse

by KREX News Room
by Amanda Brandeis

Story Created: Jan 22, 2013 at 7:53 PM MDT

Story Updated: Jan 22, 2013 at 7:53 PM MDT

MESA COUNTY, Colo. Prescription painkiller abuse is plaguing the nation, especially in our home state of Colorado. A federal report reveals Colorado has the second highest rate of prescription painkiller abuse in America.

Authorities in Mesa County say the issue is prevalent in our region. Pills prescribed from a doctor are easily finding their way onto the streets.

Prescription painkillers are taking people down dangerous roads, and many can't find their way back.

Melissa Lockhart, who's been struggling with addiction for several years, said, "It will ruin your life. It will take your husband, it will take your children, it will take everything in your life. I know, it happened to me."

Lockhart was first prescribed pain medication due to injury, but now feels pain in an entirely different way.

"My kids my husband I lost because of my pain pill addiction," she said.

Dr. Marc Breen, an emergency physician at Community Hospital, said, "Any of these medications are very similar compounds to, you know, say heroin."

Jim Schrant, resident agent in charge at the Drug Enforcement Administration of Western Colorado, said, "Young adults, early 20s and then late teens we're seeing an increasing popularity of prescription drug abuse. We're seeing a clear upswing in the number of overdose, deaths and overdose visits to emergency rooms throughout Colorado and especially Western Colorado."

Lockhart said, "In the schools, you know, my oldest son is 14 and they're selling pills like crazy up there."

"We're seeing teens engaging in these pharmaceutical parties, where what they'll do is, teenagers will show up, they'll throw what they have in a big bowl and then they share what's inside the bowl, be it xanax, oxycodone, lortab, vicodin, percocet," Schrant said.

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is working to curb the problem by holding doctors accountable.

"Unfortunately there are some people in the medical profession that tend to exploit the system and have been over-prescribing," said Schrant.

"You see the same patterns of abuse, whether it is in the inner-city of Chicago or whether it's on the streets of Grand Junction," said Dr. Breen.

"Everybody gets hurt, please get help. Because you don't want to be like me, losing everything in life because it's not worth it for just one pill," Lockhart said.

Just because they come from a doctor, these prescription drugs are as lethal and addicting as the ones the don't.

Colorado was second to Oregon for highest prescription pain pill abuse. Washington, Idaho and Indiana also made the top five.

To view the full report, click here.

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kathy55 said on Thursday, Jan 24 at 8:47 PM

Where Pot is concerned, the U.S. has not been able to properly study the Cannabinoids, as with our European counterpart. There really is medicinal benefits in cannabinoids, non addicting benefits. Check it out on your own sometime. Marijuana need not be a schedule 1 . narcotic. Opoite abuse is many times a silent deadly killer, it kills relationships and families.

Me 2.0 said on Thursday, Jan 24 at 5:12 PM

I knew it all the dope fiends are coming out on this issue. Let me guess, if only pot was perscribed instead of pain meds everything would be ok. That's just trading one problem for another.

WTF said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 5:37 PM

Me 2.0 Dope fiend? A pot dope fiend, really you must be kidding me! Grow up little boy it's 2013 and in Colorado we kicked reefer madness out in the November election.

Me 2.0 said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 5:14 PM

I was wondering how long it would take for the dope fiends to come out of the woodwork on this. WTF you didn't disappoint, lol.

naabt said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 2:41 PM

Get help for heroin and painkiller addictions in a doctor’s office with the prescription medication buprenorphine. Go to TreatmentMatch.org - a nonprofit organization providing a free and confidential way to find certified doctors who can help. Learn more about bupe at naabt.org

brendan said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 1:05 PM

f*** marijuana because the real truth is that all drugs are bad no matter what we do or say they will still be here

WTF said on Wednesday, Jan 23 at 10:06 AM

We have a deadly problem with Pills in Mesa County but you can't buy marijuana medical or otherwise! Shame on you Mesa County for enabling the pill farms to flourish! Shame on you for chasing away the medical marijuana shops so people don't have a choice between the deadly pills or non lethal marijuana for pain.

Disgusted said on Tuesday, Jan 22 at 11:19 PM

Another shining example of the quality of the local Healthcare/Marxism complex. The statistics do not lie about the excellence of care, or complete lack thereof......

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