Officials in the Appalachian region of Kentucky
are seeing cases of drug sales among seniors quite often, notes the
article by Roger Alford, and law enforcement is beginning to stage a
major crackdown on these unlikely felons, some as old as 90.
Why would a senior turn to a life of illegal drug sales? It’s
simple, stresses Floyd County jailer Roger Webb, quoted in the
article. He notes that there is a ready and waiting market for
the pills, especially those that fall under the heading “painkillers” -
such as Oxycontin - and the temptation for someone on a fixed income to
make some extra money is more than some seniors can handle.
"When a person is on Social Security, drawing $500 a month, and they
can sell their pain pills for $10 apiece, they'll take half of them for
themselves and sell the other half to pay their electric bills or buy
groceries," Webb said.
In the last 20 months, eastern Kentucky’s Operation UNITE has arrested
more than 40 individuals over the age of 60 and charged them with
selling prescription drugs. Webb notes that the prisons are
filling up with seniors, something that was a rarity just five years
ago.
Of course, seniors who sell the drugs that they are prescribed aren’t
reaping the full benefit of their medication, determining instead that
extra cash for food and other expenses is more important than the
treatment of whatever illness may be ailing them. That makes them
more susceptible to complications or less likely to recover from
illnesses or live comfortably without pain. Local churches and
other organizations have stepped in to offer free food and other help
for seniors who think they need to sell their medications in order to
make ends meet.
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By: Dawn Ross Posted: May 05 2006 08:20:46 AM