Drug abuse large part of crime in North Port | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida’s Information Leader

Drug abuse large part of crime in North Port

RISING TIDE: Abuse of prescription medicine poses growing challenge

By John Davis

Published: Thursday, August 13, 2009 at 1:00 a.m.

Last Modified: Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at 10:50 p.m.

NORTH PORT – Prescription drug abuse is on the rise in North Port, even as other crimes decline.

A police report to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement shows violent crimes essentially level compared with 2008, and property crimes such a burglary dropped by 9 percent.

But drug offenses are up sharply — 41 percent compared with the same period last year.

Police are often finding people with painkillers and other narcotics they are not supposed to have during routine traffic stops and domestic violence calls. The high-profile overdose death of North Port teenager Nick Block in June has highlighted the problem of prescription-drug abuse.

“The biggest wave I’ve seen lately is the diversion of otherwise legal narcotics,” said North Port Police Chief Terry Lewis.

Block, 15, was found dead June 5 in the Budget Inn in North Port after he snorted oxycodone with his stepfather the night before, according to police. An autopsy showed the painkiller and cocaine were in Block’s system.

Billy Courtright got prescriptions for 250 oxycodone pills from doctors in Venice and North Port within a matter of days by “doctor shopping,” or going to multiple doctors to get prescriptions for the same ailment, interviews with a doctor showed.

via Drug abuse large part of crime in North Port | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida’s Information Leader.

www.navigent3.com

Advanced Oral Fluid Drug Screening Technology