Pubdate: Wed, 16 Mar 2011 Source: Wall Street Journal (US) Copyright: 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. Contact: http://www.wsj.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/487 Author: Michael Howard Saul OXY USAGE DOUBLES IN THREE YEARS The prescription drug abuse epidemic in New York City is escalating, with the number of prescriptions for oxycodone doubling citywide during the past three years, the city's special narcotics prosecutor testified Tuesday. In 2010, more than 1 million prescriptions for oxycodone-the generic name for an opiate-based pain reliever commonly prescribed as OxyContin-were filled in the five boroughs, Bridget Brennan, the city's special narcotics prosecutor, told the City Council's Public Safety Committee. That equates to one prescription for every eight people in New York City, or 13% of the total population. In 2007, half a million of these prescriptions were filled. "The public flat out needs to be better informed about how widespread the problem is and how dangerously addictive these substances are," Ms. Brennan said. "It's pure opium. And that's an addictive drug. It's nothing to be played with." Staten Island is the borough most inundated with oxycodone, Ms. Brennan testified. Last year, on a per-capita basis, the number of oxycodone prescriptions filled in Staten Island represented an "astounding" 28% of the borough's population, she said. "If you combine that with the number of prescriptions filled for Vicodin, you get to 33% of the population," she said. In 2007, 6% of the special prosecutor's caseload was composed of prescription drug-related arrests. The percentage more than doubled to nearly 15% of the office's caseload in 2010. "While the increasing numbers are a matter of concern, the violence associated with the black market prescription drug trade is outright alarming," Ms. Brennan said in her written testimony. Many of her office's prescription drug investigations have led to seizures of guns and, in some cases, small arsenals, she said. Last month, officers investigating a suspected drug stash at an apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side found 350 oxycodone pills, plus crack cocaine and three loaded semiautomatic handguns. Ms. Brennan and each of the borough's five district attorneys, or their representatives, testified Tuesday that Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest round of proposed funding cuts would be detrimental to their offices. In Ms. Brennan's case, the latest proposed cuts from the mayor would bring her office's total loss in city funds during the past two years to $1.65 million, or 11%. The funding loss, she testified, would "render us really unable to fulfill our statutory duties, hard as we would try." Council Member Peter Vallone Jr., chairman of the council's Public Safety Committee, said, "These startling figures show that a huge percentage of New York City residents are legally-and illegally-using extremely addictive prescription drugs." "And while that number grows," he said, "this budget cuts the funding to both prosecute and treat the problem." Marc LaVorgna, a spokesman for Mr. Bloomberg, said, "We're forced to make difficult reductions across government and we've proposed a much smaller cut for the DAs than most other city agencies, just as we did for the police and fire departments." Council Member Lewis Fidler of Brooklyn, the council's assistant majority leader, chronicled how drug abuse ravaged his family. Mr. Fidler's nephew was addicted to heroin, the council member said at the hearing. When his sister and brother-in-law attempted to get their son help, he killed them, said Mr. Fidler, as he struggled to maintain his composure. Describing prescription drugs as a gateway to other drugs, Mr. Fidler said he hoped they don't become "more prevalent in our society." When he finished speaking, he quietly wiped away tears, as Council Member Letitia James patted him on the arm. Ms. Brennan said she is reaching out to various governmental agencies to combat the growing epidemic. "We're trying to get a handle on what's going on and how can we address this problem," she said. [sidebar] Drug Up Prescriptions for oxycodone - the generic name for a narcotic pain reliever commonly prescrived as OxyContin - has jumped in New York City during the past three years: Location / Change in presciptions 2007 - 10 / Number of prescriptions per 100 residents in 2010 Staten Island / 98% / 28 Manhatten / 65% / 13 Bronx / 116% / 17 Queens / 95% / 10 Brooklyn / 120% / 10 - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D