In a letter addressed to the Food and Drug Administration and Drug Enforcement Administration, Gillibrand spoke frankly about her concerns for the increase in abuse of prescription drugs, particularly hydrocodone. Research began on hydrocodone more than a decade ago and Gillibrand is demanding those studies be conclusive and force accountability. During a nine year period, between 2000 and 2009, there was a significant increase of individuals who entered an emergency room for non-medical hydrocodone. It’s a jump from 19,221 visits to 86,258.

To take the action one step further, Gillibrand requested extra funding to support prescription programs to monitor at-risk addicts. This could give local law enforcement officers the information needed to combat crimes involving prescription drug abuse. If approved, the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act (NASPER) could give individual areas the ability to pass patient histories regarding prescriptions back and forth. Working with NASPER could give current monitoring programs the support needed to accurately identify those patients with addiction signs and offer an intervention. Stepping in early on in the addiction cycle can truly crack down on prescription drug abuse.

Hydrocodone is the most frequently prescribed opiate in the United States. It is only sold in combination with other ingredients such as acetaminophen (eg. Vicodin) and delivers pain relief comparable to morphine. It is a short-acting medication which is often prescribed in four to six hour doses.

Oxycontin is unmixed Oxycodone whose time-release coating enables the tablet to be effective over a 12 hour period and was designed to prevent abuse of the powerful drug. However, undeterred addicts have been illegally obtaining the pills and then crushing the tablet to bypass the time release coating. Addicts then inject, snort or mix the pulverized pill with beverages to receive a faster effect.

One means of obtaining the drug illicitly is ‘doctor shopping’. The addict or seller presents themselves in several physician offices complaining of pain and seeking prescriptions. Recently, several states have begun to utilize computer systems to track such behavior and prevent it Questionable online pharmacies have been another pill source. The seriousness of the problem has led to federal intervention with investigators closing down many dubious internet pharmacies.

As their drug venues diminish, addicts are resorting to other, more violent means of meeting their supply needs. Neighborhood pharmacies have begun to suffer at the hands of desperate sellers and buyers. Pharmacies have seen an 81% increase in armed robberies from 2006-2010 and the US Drug Enforcement Agency reports the number of pills stolen has skyrocketed to almost a million and a half. Each one of those painkillers has a street value of $100 or more.

Long Island, New York was only the most recent scene of a violent desperation that seems to be evident across the country. There were only two robberies in pharmacies in New York state in 2006. That statistic rose to 28 in 2010. Last year, Tennessee experienced 38, Indiana 45, California 61 and Florida, who leads the nation in abuse of prescription painkillers, reported 65 pharmacy robberies. Not every robbery was as devastating as the case in Long Island, NY, but the sheer number of cases means that the risk has escalated.

In addition to efforts on the part of federal and state authorities, drug manufacturers are doing what they can to halt the problem. Oxycontin in particular is being re-formulated to create tablets that are more difficult to crush and which won’t combine well with liquids. In addition, a chemical is being added which would make the drug uncomfortable for snorting and which could produce symptoms similar to withdrawal when pulverized.

Oxycontin is called Hillbilly Heroin on the street and is considered a gateway drug to the less expensive heroin. Some fear that addicts will turn to the cheaper and what could be soon the more available drug. The spate of ruthless pharmacy robberies across the country testify to a growing abuse problem and a serious national concern.

In Texas, a robber was shot when he came into the store to rob it for OxyContin (oxycodone), and this is a case that’s been repeated in other states. The pharmacist, who had a weapon at the store, was held at gunpoint by the robber as he demanded OxyContin. Family members of the robber said he lived in constant pain, had used the last of his painkillers during the weekend, and wasn’t able to get the prescription refilled.

It is believed that more than two million Americans have abused or are currently abusing prescription painkillers like OxyContin, which has been compared to heroin for the strength of the addiction. Theft and robberies at major chain pharmacies have led to certain stores refusal to even stock prescription painkillers, while other pharmacies have raised prices for the drugs due to the rules and regulations they must process in order to fill and monitor prescriptions.

Other prescription painkillers have been the subject of pharmacy robberies, including Vicodin and the synthetic narcotic methadone. Even stimulant-type drugs like Ritalin, a treatment for ADHD, have been the target of robberies. In response, some pharmacy managers have decided it’s too risky to even carry many popularly-targeted drugs, even though they serve patients with legitimate prescriptions for the drugs. Many have decided not to allow employees access to guns in the store for safety reasons, and have experimented with security systems instead.

Robberies for prescription painkillers are also on the rise in Canada, where pharmacists have reported similar problems of being held at gunpoint for oxycodone and other drugs. In 2011, 13 pharmacy robberies were committed in Edmonton, Canada, a figure nearly twice that of the previous year. Law officials say most prescription drug robberies are premeditated, and a weapon is typically involved. They also occur on close settings with the pharmacists or pharmacy staff, with robbers actually entering the prescription work zones.

In Canada, the increase in robberies has accompanied an increase in treatment programs for people addicted to painkillers, especially in the age bracket of 18 to 24 years old. Some attempt to steal the medications for their own addiction, while others resell them on the streets at prices of $50 per pill or higher. Others have resorted to more organized methods of crime, such as offering to buy prescriptions from legitimate patients in or outside of pharmacy waiting areas or using fake prescriptions created for themselves.

Oxycodone is a drug addiction that progresses rapidly. Users who begin taking the drugs following an injury or surgery can quickly become addicted and will begin using the drug for its euphoric effects and to reach a state of "normalcy," even after their injury has healed. Stronger dosages are needed as the addiction escalates. Aside from pill form, oxycodone can be injested through the nose or by injection.

As crimes associated with the theft and abuse of prescription painkillers continue to rise, lawmakers and policy makers are continuing to consider more protective measures for pharmacies and for patients.

Now, in a recent News on 6 report, robbery detectives share with pharmacies how they can protect themselves from such crimes. This effort included a training class for area pharmacists, called a prescription for protection.

Tulsa detectives want pharmacists to know what to watch out for before a robbery occurs and how to make their stores more secure. They also want pharmacists to know what to do to make sure authorities capture the perpetrators faster.

One pharmacy participating in the training had a long history of focusing on personal service to all customers. After a robbery in February, however, that focus had to change. The pharmacist once found pride in his customer service and now he has been trained to look for disguises and distinguishing marks like tattoos. He has also added security cameras to detect warning signs.

Robbery detectives believe training pharmacists is a first line defense against robberies. One word of advice given to those attending the training is that pharmacy robberies are very similar to bank robberies in that the perpetrators often hand over a note and are often armed.

Detectives are encouraging pharmacists to implement many of the same rules used today in banks, requiring people to remove hats, hoodies and sunglasses. By taking simple steps, their goal is to make it more difficult for pharmacies to be targeted and for criminals to get away with their crime.
 

Cory Alan Sharlow was sometimes armed and always desperate when he would pounce on a pharmacy. His MO was well defined each time as he would steal a car, rob a pharmacist and then make his getaway. His purpose was always to secure the OxyContin pills his body desperately craved.

His plan appeared to be foolproof and he set out to rob 10 pharmacies in just one month. After that rampage, he was caught and then jailed. Sharlow is described as the typical addict who is driven by his addiction and desperation.

OxyContin is often the targeted drug given its ability to deliver a high euphoric feeling when crushed as it releases a high dosage all at once. Addicts will soon find themselves lying, cheating and even violating their own sense of ethics simply to satisfy a habit. The opioids taken are so powerful; the desperation is heightened when the addict cannot find his or her next dose.

In Calgary, police noted 48 pharmacy robberies last year, which more than doubled the rate from 2008. In almost every situation, the thieves were after OxyContin. This year, the number of robberies has dropped; concern is still high among pharmacists and law enforcement. They understand how powerful the draw is for the drug and until this epidemic is under control – they will stay on alert.

The man did not demand or take any cash. When he left the pharmacy with the stolen pills, he was chased on foot by witnesses. They report he pulled out his knife to confront them, waning he would cut them if they didn’t leave him alone.

The individual was said to then get in a bronze, four-door Jeep driven by an unidentified individual. The suspect was described to be in his late 30s, or early 40s, roughly 6 feet 3 inches tall and an estimated 185 pounds. He was identified as having a small patch of hair below his lower lip.

Crimes such as these continue to pop up in destinations all over the world. More and more individuals are finding themselves addicted to substances that were originally intended to relieve legitimate pain. Pharmacies are a key destination for robberies as they maintain high quantities of narcotic painkillers, such as OxyContin, Percocet and other drugs that are in high demand.

Law enforcement agencies are working to try and make it more difficult for addicts to target pharmacies, yet the process is bound to be slow and inconvenience law-abiding citizens.
 

Such an addiction was behind a gunpoint robbery recently in Eureka, according to a Times Standard report. A suspect used a gun to rob the Redwood Pharmacies of its stock of OxyContin.

According to reports from the Eureka Police Department, a man pointed a handgun at the clerk to gain access to the narcotic. He then ran out of the store and down the alley behind the building. The pharmacy was closed during the investigation.

One co-worker was alerted by another when the man entered the store. He reportedly had a black cloth covering most of his face. When the pharmacy worker ran to tell the pharmacist the store was being robbed, she turned around to meet the eyes of the perpetrator. The man told her he just wanted the OxyContin and would leave quickly.

Workers claim the individual was actually friendly about it, making the whole incident seem weird. When no one responded to his request, he asked for the drugs again and an employee pointed to the cupboard where the drugs were kept. The robber quickly took the OxyContin and left the pharmacy.

In talking with individuals at another pharmacy that had been robbed previously, the description of the individual, including his disposition and blue eyes, matched that of the Redwood Pharmacies robber.
 

In a recent Stuff report, New Zealand police in Christchurch have caught two men accused of a number of armed robberies at pharmacies throughout the city. Officers were called to one pharmacy after a knife-point robbery resulted in the taking of a large quantity of drugs.

Two of the offenders in this incident were able to initially escape; yet police caught them at a nearby intersection. The two individuals were arrested – both are listed as in their 40s and unemployed. The same two men are also accused of two other knife-point robberies which also included large quantities of drugs being taken.

These arrests came on the same day as another pharmacy robbery in a nearby town. Police were hunting for an armed man and later surrounded a house where the suspected robber may have been hiding. Officers were unable to catch the individual.

According to reports, this individual entered one pharmacy and demanded morphine. He was able to obtain a certain quantity of the drug.

A string of robberies have hit the area lately. And, while not all robberies have been pharmacies – one bank and a Post Shop were also hit – stores with pharmacy counters have certainly been the majority target over the last month.
 

Gerding was taken into custody at his home, according to an Austin Police Department spokesman, and is now in the Travis County Jail. He later admitted to all three robbers and was charged with a second-degree felony – robbery by threat.

Court documents note that Gerding robbed pharmacies HEB, Walgreens and CVS in Northeast Austin, near his home. Considered a winning method, Gerding entered each store wearing a hoodie sweatshirt and knit beanie cap before approaching the pharmacies with a type-written note demanding Oxycontin or hydrocodone.

The demand note also made mention of a gun in possession and in at least one instance, he threatened to shoot someone. Documents do not state whether or not Gerding actually carried a gun in any of the robberies.

On December 7, Gerding robbed the Walgreens pharmacy on Tech Ridge Boulevard before making his getaway on a mountain bike. A store employee followed him to a nearby condominium complex. When police arrived and investigated the complex, a truck matching the description of a vehicle used in another of the pharmacy robberies was found.

It is unclear if the robberies were done in an attempt to supply Gerding with the medication he needed to feed his addiction or if he was also selling the drugs on the street in order to maintain a drug induced stupor.
 

The Metro News reported that between September 11 and October 13, police investigated 20 drugstore robberies and four attempted robberies, all which targeted Oxycontin, one of the most popular and potent painkillers on the market.

According to Staff Sgt. Don Sweet of the Ottawa Police Robbery Unit, Oxycontin – often dubbed Hillbilly Heroin – used to be targeted for the drug itself. Now, police believe that these robberies are linked and that the drugs are sold street level through established distribution lines.

“This is way more than what we saw originally,” he said. “You’re always going to see addicted individuals, but this is a newer angle where all of a sudden, we see a huge spike.”

On the street, Oxycontin is priced according to the strength of the particular pill and can be very lucrative for criminals. In Ottwawa, 10, 20 and 40 mg tablets are sold for $20 to $40 a pill, while an 80 mg tablet fetches $40 to $50 per pill.

Police have also investigated thefts of Oxycontin from delivery trucks and pharmacy-related frauds where perpetrators were successful in getting elderly people to pick up the drugs. “It’s very sought after and criminals are seeking different ways of getting in,” Sweet said.

According to Sweet, the majority of the robberies are perpetrated by younger black males using notes. The majority of the robberies happen after 8 p.m. in the suburbs in the west and east ends of the city. While there appears to be no violence involved in these robberies, there is always the threat of violence.