It has a name, legal drugs turning into illegal. Research calls it drug diversion. It occurs when legal, often prescription, drugs are obtained in several ways—doctor shopping, forged prescriptions or employee theft. It can also happen when pharmaceuticals are shipped from manufacturers to distributors.
Very powerful synthetic opioids—fentanyl or carfentanil for example—pose challenges to rural law enforcement agencies because of their potency. Research shows that a very small amount of these pharmaceuticals, specifically carfentanil, can kill a human, yet they can be shipped through the postal system. The minute quantity and profitability of the drug is driving the rapid increase in its availability and use.
Ford County, Kansas, Sheriff Bill Carr said in his county, drugs of choice are often methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs.
“Over the last several years we’ve seen an increase in inmates who have moderate to severe stimulant use disorder, which includes addiction to methamphetamine,” Carr said. “This in turn creates another set of hurdles for jail staff to deal with in relation to medical and mental health needs of inmates.”
Methamphetamine, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, is usually a white, bitter-tasting powder or pill. Crystal methamphetamine, another form of the drug, looks like glass fragments or shiny, bluish-white rocks. It is chemically similar to amphetamine—a drug used to treat attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder and narcolepsy, a sleep disorder.
Because of the increase in drug use and abuse, Carr, has seen an increase in some crime related to the drug use.
“We’ve experienced an increase in burglary and thefts in relation to drug use,” he said. “Many of our adult sexual assault cases have been tied back to drug related activities.”
Nicole Hamm, information services assistant director/public affairs specialist with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said western Kansas hasn’t seen the opioid epidemic like some of the other major cities might be experiencing.
“However, it does seem to be slowly appearing in certain areas,” she said. “Prescription pills have been a problem out west, as well.”
The biggest drug abuse problem in southwest Kansas is meth, she said.
“Additionally, when it comes to burglaries, thefts and other crimes in the area the majority of them have methamphetamine connected to them,” Hamm said.
Carr has seen prescription drug abuse on the rise in the county. According to www.preventoverdoseks.org, opioids often include: Oxycodone, Methadone, morphine, hydrocodone, fentanyl, heroine, tramadol, hydromorphone, oxymorphone, and others.
“We are experiencing a slow increase of individuals admitting to heroin use,” he said.
His staff has limited training for recognizing opioid overdoses, but they’re working on it.
“We continue to look for up-to-date training and hope to bring something out to Ford County to better serve our law enforcement and medical professionals,” Carr said.
Kylene Scott can be reached at 620-227-1804 or [email protected].
