Pubdate: Wed, 11 Apr 2001 Source: Bangor Daily News (ME) Copyright: 2001 Bangor Daily News Inc. Contact: http://www.bangornews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/40 Author: Emmet Meara BILLS TARGET VIOLATORS OF DRUG LAWS AUGUSTA - The fastest growing drug problem in Maine is neither heroin nor cocaine, but the abuse of prescription drugs and "club drugs" like Ecstasy, law enforcement officials told legislators on Tuesday. Prescription drugs that are smuggled in from Canada have become a serious crime and health problem along the border in areas such as Washington and Aroostook counties, officials said. The Attorney General's Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency asked for legislators' support for bills to increase penalties for smuggling or illegal possession of prescription drugs and for sale or possession of illegal club drugs. Users like to say that club drugs, which include MDMA (Ecstasy), and similar chemicals are safe, but they are "as dangerous as heroin," according to Attorney General G. Steven Rowe. "These drugs and the crimes people will commit to get them represent a serious threat to Maine families and communities. These drugs are ruining - and sometimes ending - lives," Rowe said. Former drug prosecutor Rep. William Schneider, R-Durham, who sponsored the bill to increase penalties for the possession of designer drugs said, "This is not kid stuff. People get brain damage. They suffer tragic sexual assault. They die. It has happened here in Maine, but it must stop." The number of Ecstasy pills seized in Maine exploded from 32 in 2000 to 4,363 last year, Schneider said. The use of Ecstasy and similar drugs has ballooned in the past 18 months and caused two fatal overdoses, according to Assistant Attorney General James M. Cameron. The drugs are popular at organized "raves," or all-night parties of 15-24 year olds. Concentrated enforcement in Portland has forced the raves to Lewiston where police made a recent seizure of 2,000 tablets worth an estimated $50,000, Cameron said. Along with the abuse of illegal drugs, law enforcement officials are targeting a similar explosion of smuggling and of abusing legal prescription drugs, especially in northern Maine. The illegal use of prescription drugs is out of control, said Rep. Edward Povich, D-Ellsworth, the co-chairman of the Criminal Justice Committee. "These drugs are so addictive that users resort to almost anything to get them," Povich said. In one recent Clifton incident, a drug user broke into a house looking for drugs, then burned it down when he failed to find any. Luckily the elderly homeowner was away at the time, Povich said. The illegal use of prescription drugs is most prevalent in municipalities that border Canada, officials said. "Washington County has an extremely high rate of prosecutions for prescription drug related crimes. That tells you we are treating the problem seriously, but it also tells you about the enormous scope of the problem," said Michael Povich, the district attorney for Hancock and Washington counties and the brother of the committee chairman. Aroostook County District Attorney Neale Adams also reported a common thread of prescription drug abuse in the county court docket. The drug problem in the Calais area is a catastrophe and area high school students consider smuggling drugs across the Canadian border to be a game, said Rep. Kevin L. Shorey, R-Calais. The prescription drugs cause devastation in Washington County, he said. Houlton area DEA agent Darrell Crandall, who also was present to endorse stiffer penalties, said there is an epidemic of smuggling of prescription drugs from Canada into Aroostook County. Many cases are not even prosecuted under current weak laws, he said. While heroin investigations increased by 40 percent in 2000 over the previous year, prescription drug abuse cases skyrocketed by 95 percent, according to DEA Director Roy McKinney, who asked the committee for better tools to control the problem. The effort to control the smuggling and abuse of prescription drugs was applauded by the Maine Chiefs of Police, Maine Medical Association, and the Maine Osteopaths Association. Bills before the committee Tuesday were: LD 1725 which stiffens penalties for smuggling drugs across the U.S. or state border. LD 1727 to control the abuse of "club drugs." LD 1728 to increase penalties for the illegal diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. The lawmakers will conduct work sessions on the measures April 24. - --- MAP posted-by: GD