Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jun 2001 Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (WI) Copyright: 2001 Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Contact: http://www.jsonline.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/265 Author: AMY BOEREMA, of the Journal Sentinel staff ABUSE OF OXYCONTIN CREEPS INTO MILWAUKEE AREA Forged Prescriptions, Death Of Teen Linked To Powerful Painkiller While abuse of the prescription pain reliever OxyContin hasn't reached the epidemic-like proportions in Milwaukee as it has in several eastern states, officials said the trend seems to be slowly increasing. Several area pharmacies, including ones in Wauwatosa, Glendale, Franklin and Racine, have been the targets of robberies and forged prescriptions involving OxyContin in the past four months. The latest OxyContin-related incident involves the investigation of a Cudahy teen found dead of a probable overdose on June 6. "I'm aware that it is a growing problem in our area as well, and I think the pharmacy thefts are an indication of that," said Francis Schmitz, chief of criminal division at the U.S. attorney's office in Milwaukee. "Law enforcement (officials) are being provided more information about this." OxyContin tablets are time-released so the opiate oxycodone is released into the bloodstream gradually. When the tablets are crushed, the time release is destroyed, and abusers who either inhale or inject the drug receive an intended 12-hour dosage at once. "When you take the time-release away, it's going to be so potent if you inject or snort it, which makes it very dangerous," said Mari Hang, coordinator of assessment and referral for Impact Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services Inc. in Milwaukee. Hang said the problem isn't huge right now but is becoming bigger. She said she's seen a moderate increase in the number of people addicted to OxyContin, most of whom are addicted to other drugs as well. Hang said OxyContin abuse seems to be most popular with people in their 20s to 40s. The Drug Enforcement Administration in Milwaukee has seen an increase in the number of thefts or loss reports of OxyContin, said diversion investigator Mike Grafton. At Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital in Wauwatosa, however, the emergency medicine department has not seen any OxyContin overdoes, said assistant professor Chris Decker. Hang said Milwaukee seems slow in discovering drug trends. "We find out things last sometimes," she said. "Before the incident (of the Cudahy death), I'd never even heard of OxyContin," said Sgt. Randy Scheel of the Cudahy Police Department. "It's possible it's becoming the drug of choice, but I don't know for sure. It's new to me, too." - --- MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart