Officials: Prescription drug abuse is rising

Prescription drug abuse is on the rise locally, law enforcement officials said Wednesday after an 18-year-old man was charged with selling pills at Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES.

Kyle S. Leddick of Utica is accused of selling more than 20 pills of the prescription drug Darvocet around May 13 while he was a student at the Middle Settlement Road campus, Oneida County Drug Enforcement Task Force Investigator Brad Pietryka said.

Leddick was charged Wednesday with fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance and fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, both felonies, according to the Drug Enforcement Task Force.

The arrest came after an almost week-long investigation by the New Hartford Police Department and the Drug Enforcement Task Force.

Pietryka and New Hartford police Investigator Edward Schmidt said drug

abuse is up because the drugs are more readily available.

"Prescription drug abuse is becoming a bigger and bigger problem," Schmidt said.

"You open the medicine cabinet, and there they are," he said.

Pietryka said Darvocet contains the controlled substance dextropropoxyphene.

The drug is usually prescribed for pain relief.

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says dextropropoxyphene is a "close relative of methadone," and is one of the top 10 drugs involved in drug abuse deaths.

Education

As more doctors prescribe drugs, Pietryka said they become more available for abuse by youths.

"Teenagers are getting a hold of their parents' medications," Pietryka said.

"As parents, it begins by making sure that our prescriptions are out of reach and in a place where kids can't access them. … The other way is education," he said.

Howard Mettelman, Oneida-Herkimer-Madison BOCES superintendent, said drug abuse is discussed as part of character education programs.

"It looks at awareness, respect of not only individuals but self respect by abiding by the laws and regulations," he said.

Action to be taken

Mettelman said immediate action will be taken against the student.

"This type of prohibited conduct isn't tolerated," he said.

Leddick was arraigned Wednesday afternoon in New Hartford Town Court.

He was released into his mother's custody, police said.

The Partnership for a Drug Free America's annual tracking study states one in five teens abuse a prescription pain medication.

Oone in five reported abusing prescription stimulants and tranquilizers.

And one in 10 abuse cough medication.

"Parents want to be vigilant in terms of making sure that our children don't have access to medication," Mettelman said.

Observer-Dispatch