[HARMRED] Sky-High Prices for Prescription Opioids Sold on Street

[Mark Kinzly]

Sky-High Prices for Prescription Opioids Sold on Street
By Join Together Staff |  																						June 1, 2011 | Leave a comment  
| Filed in Drugs & Prescription Drugs 

Prices for prescription painkillers sold illegally are  sky-high, according to 
data from federal law enforcement agencies. These  prices are creating a 
fast-growing street market for prescription  painkillers.
For example, the street price for brand-name OxyContin is $50 to $80  per pill, 
while generic oxycodone sells for $12 to $40 per pill. In a  pharmacy, both 
pills sell for around $6, CNN reports.
Prescription drugs have passed marijuana as the most common gateway  drug for 
first-time drug abuse, according to the Drug Enforcement  Administration (DEA). 
Seven million Americans abused prescription pain  and anxiety drugs in 2009—a 13 
percent increase from the prior year,  according to the DEA, which expects 
another double-digit rise for 2010.
Sergeant Stephen Opferman of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s  Department told 
CNN that the most worrisome trend he sees is the rise in  young teens who are 
abusing prescription drugs. “The kids think these  drugs must be safer than 
heroin because their parents take them,” he  said. “They hold what they call 
‘skittles parties’ where they try out  sleeping pills, anti-anxiety pills and 
pain medicine.”
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Mark Kinzly

2 Thunder Hill
York, ME 03909
markkinzly at yahoo.com
860-724-5339
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