Southeast Region

National Drug Intelligence Center
Pharmaceuticals Drug Threat Assessment
November 2004

NDTS 2004 data reveal that 4.0 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southeast identify diverted pharmaceuticals as their greatest drug threat. Survey data also indicate that 2.0 percent of southeastern state and local law enforcement agencies report that pharmaceuticals are the drugs that most contribute to violent crime in their areas, while 3.0 percent report that pharmaceuticals contribute most to property crime. Despite the relatively small percentage of law enforcement agencies in the Southeast region that identify pharmaceuticals as their greatest drug threat, diversion and abuse of such drugs are common.

The diversion and abuse of prescription narcotics such as oxycodones (OxyContin, Percocet, and Percodan), hydrocodones (Lorcet and Vicodin) and, to a lesser extent, hydromorphones (Dilaudid) are significant and increasing threats to the Southeast region. NDTS 2004 data indicate a high percentage of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southeast region report that oxycodones (86.3%) and hydrocodones (81.1%) are commonly diverted and abused in their areas. A smaller percentage of agencies (17.6%) report that hydromorphones are commonly diverted and abused in their areas.

Traffic Stop in Alabama Results in Large Seizure of Hydrocodone

On March 11, 2004, officers with the Harpsville (AL) Police Department seized 3,957 grams (approximately 9,000 dosage units) of hydrocodone during a traffic stop on U.S. Highway 280 in Harpsville. According to officials, the officers stopped a minivan for an improper lane change. After routine questioning of the driver, a 54-year-old male, officers requested and received consent to search the vehicle. During the search, officers discovered the hydrocodone in three bags, which were taped together and concealed under paint supplies in the cargo area of the van. The driver was arrested and charged with felony unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Evidence in the vehicle indicated that the driver had obtained the hydrocodone at a Childersburg pharmacy. A subsequent investigation by Shelby County Drug Enforcement Task Force officers and Alabama State Board of Pharmacy investigators resulted in the arrest of the pharmacy owners, who were husband and wife. Both were charged with conspiracy to commit a controlled substance crime.

Source: Harpsville Police Department.

Regional drug prevalence data are not available; however, drug consequence data show increases in the number of ED mentions and treatment admissions for prescription narcotics. DAWN data indicate that the combined number of ED mentions for "Narcotic Analgesics" (prescription narcotics) for the three DAWN reporting cities in the Southeast region (Atlanta, Miami, and New Orleans) increased significantly from 2000 (1,353 mentions), to 2001 (1,602 mentions), to 2002 (1,831 mentions). TEDS data show that admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Southeast region for "Other Opiates" (prescription narcotics and opium) increased sharply from 2000 (7,724 admissions), to 2001 (10,351 admissions), to 2002 (12,633 admissions), the most recent year for which data are available.

Law enforcement survey data as well as DAWN and TEDS data indicate that prescription depressant diversion and abuse are significant and increasing threats to the Southeast region. NDTS 2004 data show that the percentages of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southeast region that report Valium and Xanax are commonly diverted and abused in their areas are 79.7 percent and 88.4 percent, respectively. DAWN data show that the combined number of ED mentions for benzodiazepines (Valium and Xanax) increased sharply in the three DAWN reporting cities (Atlanta, Miami, and New Orleans) in the Southeast region from 2000 (2,079 mentions), to 2001 (2,402 mentions), to 2002 (2,729 mentions), the most recent year for which such data are available. TEDS data show a sharp increase in the number of treatment admissions within the region for prescription depressants (tranquilizers and sedatives/hypnotics) such as Valium and Xanax. According to TEDS, the number of treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities in the Southeast region for depressants increased from 2000 (2,711 admissions), to 2001 (3,117 admissions), to 2002 (3,308 admissions).

The diversion and abuse of pharmaceutical stimulants, particularly methylphenidate (Ritalin), are a concern to law enforcement and public health agencies; however, the threat posed to the region by stimulant diversion and abuse appears to be lower than that of prescription narcotics and depressants. NDTS 2004 data show that only 53.0 percent of state and local law enforcement agencies in the Southeast region report that Ritalin is commonly diverted and illicitly used in their areas. DAWN and TEDS data regarding the number of ED mentions and treatment admissions to publicly funded treatment facilities for prescription stimulants are not available.

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