<div><br><br></div><br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">---------- Forwarded message ----------<br>From: <b class="gmail_sendername">Stevan Gressitt</b> <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:gressitt@gmail.com">gressitt@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
Date: Tue, Feb 8, 2011 at 9:36 AM<br>Subject: Fwd: [RxNews] Pharmacy robberies for pain killers more likely than bank robberies<br>To: <a href="mailto:ec-mapp@googlegroups.com">ec-mapp@googlegroups.com</a><br><br><br>So now we have more deaths from prescription overdose and more pharmacy robberies than bank heists.<div>
<br clear="all"><div>Stevan Gressitt, M.D.<br>Faculty Associate, University of Maine Center on Aging<br>Academic Member, Athens Institute for Education and Research</div>
<div>Athens, Greece</div>
<div>Founding Director, International Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety<br>University of New England, College of Pharmacy<br>Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences <br>Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry<br>University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine<br>
716 Stevens Avenue <br>Portland, Maine 04103<br><a href="mailto:gressitt@gmail.com" target="_blank">gressitt@gmail.com</a> <br>Cell: 207-441-0291 </div>
<div><a href="http://www.benzos.une.edu/" target="_blank">www.benzos.une.edu</a> </div>
<div><a href="http://www.safemeddisposal.com/" target="_blank">www.safemeddisposal.com</a> <br><br></div><br><br><div class="gmail_quote"><br>
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<h1>Don’t Shoot! Pharmacy Robberies for Pain Killers More
Likely Than Bank Robberies</h1>
<div><span>Posted on</span>
<a title="1:30 am" href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/current-health-news/pharmacy-robberies-increase-b020" rel="bookmark" target="_blank"><span><font color="#743399">February 8,
2011</font></span></a> <span>by</span> <span><a title="View all posts by admin" href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/author/admin/" target="_blank">admin</a></span> </div>
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<p><strong>February 7, 2011</strong></p>
<p>By Brian Bujdos</p>
<p><a href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/RS-Pharmacy-Robbery-Sign.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin:15px" title="Pharmacy robberies for pain killers are increasing according to the DEA." alt="Pharmacy robberies for pain killers are increasing according to the DEA." width="120" height="88"></a>The New York Times reports that there have been more
than 1,800 pharmacy robberies in the U.S. since the beginning of 2008. This has
led pharmacy chains, as well as family-run stores, to change the way they do
business.</p>
<p>One small drug store in Maine has stopped selling Oxycontin. In fact, the
owner put up a sign saying as much, in clear view of would-be criminals. The
pharmacy-heist problem is getting so bad in Maine that the U.S. attorney there
has called in the Feds to help work some of the cases. If the cases are tried in
Federal Court, they can often bring more severe penalties, including more jail
time.</p>
<p>The most requested medications for robbers are painkillers Oxycontin and
Vicodin, as well as Xanax, an anti-anxiety drug. People who are addicted to pain
killers are not the only ones involved with the robberies. Authorities say that,
because one 80-milligram Oxycontin pill often sells for $80 on the street, gangs
and other individuals who are looking for a big payday are also at
fault. </p>
<p><a href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Pharmacy-Robbery-Police.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin:15px" title="There have been more than 1,800 pharmacy robberies since 2008." alt="There have been more than 1,800 pharmacy robberies since 2008." width="300" height="158"></a>The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) reports that
there were 21 pharmacy robberies in Maine last year. There were only two there
in 2008, and then seven more in 2009. Maine, Oklahoma and Oregon have seen the
biggest spikes in pharmacy robberies in the last year. The DEA also reports that
Florida, Indiana, California, Ohio and Washington have earned the uncoveted
distinction of having the most incidents involving armed robberies at pharmacies
since January 2008.</p>
<p>Pharmacists in the states listed above, and others, have increased security
at their stores as pharmacy robberies continue to become more common than bank
robberies in many places. Some of the most common security measures include
video surveillance systems, tracking devices in pill bottles, the raising or
cordoning off of pharmacy counters so that would-be criminals can’t get over
them and time-release locks on safes. Many pharmacies also carry lower
inventories for painkillers and similar drugs.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Pharmacy-Robbery-Suspect.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin:15px" title="Pain killer addicts and criminals looking to make $80 per Oxycontin pill are both to blame for the increase in pharmacy robberies." alt="Pain killer addicts and criminals looking to make $80 per Oxycontin pill are both to blame for the increase in pharmacy robberies." width="300" height="212"></a>Even the manufacturer of Oxycontin, Purdue Pharma, is
consulting with police departments to provide advice on investigating
pharmaceutical robberies. Purdue is also working with pharmacists to train them
on how to prevent robberies and what to do if one happens.</p>
<p>The pharmacy-heist problem has gotten so bad in Washington state (more than
100 incidents since 2008), that some pharmacies are having challenges hiring
enough pharmacists to work the risky job. Also in Washington, authorities are
working with the state legislature to toughen laws for robberies in which no
weapon is displayed. The current minimum sentence for that crime in Washington
is just three months.</p>
<p>Washington is not alone. Pharmaceutical bandits have pharmacy workers
throughout the country fearing what could happen next.</p>
<p>Read more <a href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/current-health-news" target="_blank">health
news articles</a> on AccessRx.</p></div>
<div>This entry was posted in <a title="View all posts in Current Health News" href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/current-health-news" rel="category tag" target="_blank">Current Health News</a>. Bookmark the <a title="Permalink to Don t Shoot! Pharmacy Robberies for Pain Killers More Likely Than Bank Robberies" href="http://www.accessrx.com/blog/current-health-news/pharmacy-robberies-increase-b020" rel="bookmark" target="_blank"><font color="#743399">permalink</font></a>. </div>
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