NARCOTICS AGENT: SYNTHETIC OPIUM GAINING POPULARITY IN THE REGION

A 45-year-old woman's attempts to purchase an illegal amount of painkillers at several Cape Girardeau pharmacies underscores the rising regional problem with OxyContin, a narcotics agent said.

"It has been a problem in Western Kentucky, but now we're seeing more here," said Kevin Glaser, head of the Southeast Missouri Drug Task Force.

The woman had taken prescriptions from doctors in Cape Girardeau, Dexter, Sikeston and Charleston to four pharmacies on Monday attempting to get a large quantity of the pills, police Cpl. Rick Schmidt said. Pharmacists reported the incidents to police, and she was arrested. The woman was later released pending further investigation.

"Whether she was tampering with the amounts or not, we're not sure yet," Schmidt said. "It's possible she'll face other charges from Sikeston, Dexter and Charleston."

The painkiller, which is a synthetic derivative of opium, is taking on the status of a cheap substitute for heroin, Glaser said. Undercover narcotics officers have been able to buy the pills in Southeast Missouri for $5 to $7.

Overdose deaths

"It has been around for awhile, but only lately have we seen its abuse," he said.

Although only three overdoses involving OxyContin have been reported at Cape Girardeau hospitals, misuse of the drug has resulted in five deaths in Poplar Bluff, Mo., Glaser said.

Overdoses generally have occurred when OxyContin is chewed, crushed or diluted in water for injection. The pill is meant to be taken orally, and altering its form allows it to be assimilated into the body at a dangerously high rate, Glaser said.

Most who legally take OxyContin have been given prescriptions to alleviate severe pains associated with back surgery or treatments associated with cancer, pharmacist August Smirl of Bill's Pharmacy said. Large prescriptions are not unusual, Smirl said.

"Some who are going through chemotherapy get a large quantity, so I don't question that," he said.

In order to get the prescriptions, individuals will either go to several doctors or complain about nonexisting pains, Glaser said.

When looking for forged prescriptions, Smirl said familiarity with doctors makes the difference.

"You just look at the script," he said. "After a while you get used to a doctor's signature."