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Broadcast time: 12:58 pm |
Date: January 29, 2015 |
The Sarnia Police Service Vice unit would like to remind the public, all health care workers and pharmacies that the abuse of prescribed medications, such as Fentanyl and hydromorphone, is a growing concern and all people involved need to be vigilant and do what they can to curb the abuse of these drugs.
With the recent incident involving the pharmacy employee, there are always concerns that medication is being stolen from within but there are other means that these drugs are hitting the streets of Sarnia.
For example, after beginning an investigation into a drug trafficking matter the Sarnia Police Service Vice Unit executed a warrant to a residence on Richard St. in the City of Sarnia on October 30, 2014. Upon searching the residence the officers located $5565 in cash hidden in a closet. Also found were numerous empty prescription Fentanyl boxes and individual packages. Empty and partially full bottles of prescribed hydromorphone were also found.
The Fentanyl prescriptions and the large bottles of hydromorphone bottles that were empty had a prescription date of October 29, 2014. According to the prescription receipts the accused had obtained 28 – 100 micrograms patches of fentanyl, 14 – 50 micrograms of fentanyl and 160 – 30 milligram hydromorphone capsules. These were prescribed on October 29, 2014 and the search warrant was executed the very next day. The members of the Vice Unit reasonably believe that the prescribed medications were sold off in that short period of time.
The approximate street value of the drugs prescribed was just over $22000.
At the time, a 33 year old man, who was prescribed the above medication was charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking Fentanyl and hydromorphone contrary to the Controlled drugs and Substances Act and the matter is still before the courts. Other individuals were also charged for other drug related offences.
The Sarnia Police Vice Unit are concerned that such large quantities of very addictive and potentially dangerous drugs are being dispensed and in turn being abused and sold on the streets. They are asking medical professionals to please do what you can to monitor their patients and clients because ultimately they too have a role to play in the safety of our community.
Constable Giovanni Sottosanti
Community Services Branch
Tel: 519-344-8861 Ext 6168
Email: 168@police.sarnia.on.ca