Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2008
Source: Hendersonville Times-News (NC)
Copyright: 2008 Hendersonville Newspaper Corporation
Contact:  http://www.blueridgenow.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/793
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topic/Fentanyl

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DEALERS WARNED

Henderson County Sheriff Rick Davis and District Attorney Jeff Hunt 
announced murder charges against a man they say sold a prescription 
pain killer to a 19-year-old who died of a overdose, and delivered a 
strong warning to other dealers.

"We are trying to send a message that the sheriff and I will continue 
to prosecute drug cases to the fullest extent of the law," Hunt said. 
In an unusual joint news conference, the county's top lawman and 
chief prosecutor also warned those who legally take the powerful pain 
medicine to guard it closely.

"We want to warn people who legally own Fentanyl to keep it under 
lock and key," Hunt said. "We also want people to know if you are 
selling materials and then an overdose occurs, you have the chance of 
being charged with second-degree murder."

James Michael Arnold, 23, of 273 Willis Way, was arrested Monday and 
charged with second-degree murder, possession with the intent to sell 
or deliver a controlled substance and sale or delivery of a 
controlled substance. Arnold is being held on a $114,000 bond in the 
Henderson County jail. Investigators say it was Arnold who sold the 
pain patch to 19-year-old Justin Kane Anderson, who died of an 
overdose on July 20. Anderson's death, they say, is part of a deadly 
trend in Fentanyl abuse. "We suspect as many as half a dozen or more 
(fatal overdoses), but toxicology reports are not back yet so we 
cannot say with certainty," said Capt. Charlie McDonald.

Hunt said a second-degree murder charge in a drug overdose is 
unusual, but not unprecedented. Prosecutors got second-degree murder 
convictions in Rutherford County against two dealers arising from the 
sale of Methadone to users who overdosed.

A Dangerous Drug

Davis and Hunt issued a warning about the drug's danger. "In this 
case it is so important that we get the word out about the hazards 
associated with Fentanyl," Davis said. "We felt we had enough 
evidence to proceed with the arrest." Davis said he wanted to alert 
the public to the fact that Fentanyl is much more addictive than heroin.

"There is nothing wrong with the use of the patch when it is 
prescribed and used correctly, but any usage in any other capacity 
can be fatal," he said. Flip Fisher, a pharmacist with Whitley Drugs 
in Hendersonville, said the Fentanyl patch, or brand name Duragersic, 
is prescribed for severe chronic pain such as arthritis and cancer.

"This patch is for patients who have ongoing pain and are already 
using narcotics," Fisher said. "This medicine gives the patient 
better pain relief over time." Fisher said the flesh colored patch is 
normally worn by a patient for three days. "When they take off the 
patch, we tell the patient to flush it down the toilet," he said. 
"Even after the patch has been used there is enough medicine left in 
the patch to kill a human or animal."

Chasing the High

Davis said people who are abusing the drug are chewing the patch or 
diluting the substance in the patch and injecting it intravenously. 
"The high that is created by abusing the patch reaches a certain 
level of euphoria that cannot be reached again," he said. "People who 
abuse the patch use more to try and get the same high as the first 
time they used it."

McDonald said this tragic death has brought the abuse of Fentanyl to 
the forefront. "It is the intent of the Sheriff's Office to make the 
public aware of what we have seen as a growing trend in the abuse of 
these Fentanyl patches that are often legitimately prescribed to 
patients with chronic or severe pain or in terminal cases," McDonald 
said. The drug is 80 to 100 times more potent than morphine and in 
its patch form it is topically absorbed into the skin in a time 
released manner, he said.

"There is obviously a market for such drugs on the streets in any 
town or county and it is our job to educate the public to the threat 
while committing all of our resources to identify and arrest those 
who prey on the weaknesses of others for their own profit," he said.

Fighting Abuse

Davis said his office detected the trend after investigators noticed 
a rise in unattended deaths in which toxicology reports of the 
deceased showed high levels of Fentanyl.

Investigators started working to identify those who could be 
introducing the drug onto the streets, McDonald said.

"It should be noted that while some of the cases involved persons 
with no legal reason to be in possession of the drug, a few cases 
involving an overdose were patients prescribed the drug, but using it 
in a manner where it is taken improperly," he added.

Anderson, a native of Smyrna Beach, Fla., was raised in Hilton Head, 
S.C., before moving to Hendersonville. He was a 2007 graduate of East 
Henderson High School and was a student at Blue Ridge Community 
College. He enjoyed golf and riding motorcycles.

His mother, Susan King, said she was pleased an arrest had been made 
in her son's death.

"I am still in shock," she said. "For now I am not going to say much 
and let the police do their job." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake