Local law enforcement officials get training on prescription drug abuse

SIKESTON, Mo. -- More than 40 officers from 13 law enforcement agencies gathered Monday at the Clinton building in Sikeston for a presentation on prescription drug abuse and investigations, according to the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

The two-hour class was developed by Dr. Richard Logan, a pharmacist from Charleston, Mo., who spent the time providing a cache of information about the commonly abused types of prescriptions drugs in the region and agencies that are available to assist law enforcement officers in identifying them.

The program is part of a task force to combat the misuse of prescription drugs in Southeast Missouri, a collaboration between Logan, Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter and Mississippi County Sheriff Keith Moore.

It was accredited through Missouri Peace Officer Standards and Training, so officers could receive continuing education credits for attending the session.

"With training time at such a premium and costs soaring, we felt that if we could offer this training for POST credit and at no cost, we would have the best opportunity of encouraging officers to attend," Walter said.

Prescription drug abuse is an area of law enforcement often underreported and overlooked, said Robert Hearnes, Charleston director of Public Safety.

Hearnes said he attended Monday's session to expand his knowledge in the realm of prescription drug abuse.

"A lot of police are focused on illegal drugs," he said.

One of the most troublesome aspects for officers when facing a potential prescription drug arrests is determining whether the drugs were legally obtained, a problem that doesn't arise when dealing with cocaine or methamphetamine, said deputy Charles B. Pratt, with the Scott County Sheriff's Department.

Pratt said he learned from Logan how many juveniles are adopting the practice of pilfering prescription medications from their parents' or relatives' medicine cabinets, thinking they're safe.

"Some pain medications are stronger than heroin. I've been doing this job for 20 years and I didn't know that," Pratt said.

One problem Charleston police frequently face with prescription drugs are either recurring thefts of medication being reported, or people filing false reports of theft so they can get their prescription refilled and hide the fact they're abusing the drug, Hearnes said.

There's been a rise in both incidents lately, he said.

"A lot of people assume it's safe because it comes from a drugstore," he said.

Walter said he plans on organizing many more presentations on the topic.

Officers from the Mississippi County Sheriff's Department, Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force, Morehouse Police Department, Chaffee Police Department, Sikeston Department of Public Safety, Scott City Police Department, Oran Police Department, Bertrand Police Department, Stoddard County Sheriff's Department, New Madrid County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Marshal's Service and Mississippi County prosecuting attorney's Office also attended the presentation.

bdicsomo@semissourian.com

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