Diverted Pharmaceuticals

National Drug Intelligence Center
Pennsylvania Drug Threat Assessment Update
October 2003

Pharmaceutical drugs such as Dilaudid, OxyContin, Vicodin, and Xanax (alprazolam, a benzodiazepine) pose a serious drug threat to Pennsylvania. According to the Pennsylvania Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs, the number of pharmaceutical-related treatment admissions to publicly funded facilities increased 17 percent from 2,622 in SFY2001 to 3,055 in SFY2002. (The drugs included in this pharmaceutical subset include nonprescription methadone, opiates/synthetics, amphetamines, stimulants, benzodiazepines, tranquilizers, barbiturates, and sedatives/hypnotics.) Opiate-related admissions represented 77 percent (2,352) of the 3,055 pharmaceutical-related admissions in 2002. DAWN mortality data indicate that narcotic analgesics (excluding heroin) were mentioned in 466 of the 874 drug deaths in the Philadelphia metropolitan area in 2001, antidepressants in 254 drug deaths, benzodiazepines in 235 drug deaths, and other analgesics in 83 drug deaths.

Prescription Narcotics

Prescription narcotics are natural or synthetic opioids/opiates including codeine, fentanyl, hydrocodone products (Lortab, Lorcet, Vicodin), hydromorphone products (Dilaudid), methadone, morphine, oxycodone products (OxyContin, Percodan, Tylox, Percocet), and propoxyphene (Darvocet). Such drugs are prescribed for pain relief but often are abused for the euphoric effects they produce. Possible side effects of narcotic abuse include drowsiness, respiratory depression, constricted pupils, and nausea.

OxyContin continues to be one of the most widely abused diverted pharmaceuticals in Pennsylvania. However, successful law enforcement efforts have limited the availability of OxyContin in some areas of the state. As a result, many OxyContin abusers in those areas have switched to abusing heroin because it produces similar physiological effects.

Diverted pharmaceuticals are readily available in most areas of Pennsylvania. According to the NDTS 2002, 73 of the 99 law enforcement respondents in Pennsylvania rated the level of pharmaceutical availability as medium or high. Murrysville Police Department officials (Westmoreland County) responded that the availability of pharmaceutical drugs in their jurisdiction is high, and that such drugs pose the greatest drug threat to their area. Most diverted pharmaceuticals available in Pennsylvania are obtained through prescription forgery and "doctor shopping," a practice by which individuals who may or may not have a legitimate ailment visit numerous physicians to obtain drugs in excess of what should be prescribed. Diverted pharmaceuticals also are obtained by prescription drug abusers and dealers who steal the drugs from pharmacies or from the residences of legitimate prescription holders. Law enforcement officials in the state report that some pharmacy employees divert drugs by intentionally filling fraudulent prescriptions or by stealing pharmaceuticals from their place of employment. Law enforcement officials also report that some physicians in Pennsylvania practice lax prescribing protocols or prescribe such drugs for fees or sexual favors.

Caucasian local independent dealers and abusers are the principal distributors of diverted pharmaceuticals in Pennsylvania. Diverted pharmaceuticals typically are distributed at private residences, bars, and nightclubs. According to the DEA Philadelphia Division, diverted OxyContin sold for $1 per milligram throughout most of the state; however, it sold for $20 per tablet (any strength) in Philadelphia in the second quarter of FY2003. Dilaudid sold for $20 per 2-milligram tablet and $40 per 4-milligram tablet, Vicodin sold for $4 to $7 per tablet, and Xanax sold for $1 to $5 per tablet during the same period.

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