29 Young Rockland Co. Adults Busted In RX Sting

New City, NY (CBS)  On Wednesday, more than two dozen young people were charged with peddling various prescription pills. They range in age from 16 to 34, and many come from affluent families. Most have no prior criminal records.

It is a real education for a community that prides itself on teaching young people about the dangers of drugs. For a year, the Rockland Narcotics Task Force made undercover buys of prescription drugs – everything from the anti-More then 2 dozen young adults were arrested Rockland County charged with illegally selling prescription drugs.
“This follows a national trend, that prescription pain medication in particular is a hot commodity,” said Marge Davitt of the Rockland Health Department.

Police said undercover agents bought the drugs in parks, and even on the ground of the Congers Elementary School.

“We’re very concerned about it as they are nationally. These are very, very addictive drugs,” said Rockland County District Attorney Tom Zugibe.

OxyContin abuse is particularly concerning. It’s a pricey pill that often leads users to try even harder narcotics.

“We were buying 80 gram Oxycontin pills for a dollar a gram – $80. Once that money runs out they satisfy their addiction by buying $5 worth of heroin,” said Zugibe.

From Long Island to the Hudson Valley, it’s a scourge across the suburbs, with young adults raiding the medicine chest for all kinds of prescription pills.

“Because it’s not crack, or heroin, cocaine, selling a prescription pill is innocuous compared to some of the harder drugs, yes. That’s what they think,” said Capt. Joe Tripodo of the Narcotics Task Force.

Officials with the task force urge parents to talk to young adults about the dangers of prescription drug abuse, and to inventory and secure what’s in your medicine cabinet.

This Saturday every local police department in Rockland will be accepting unwanted prescription pills. Everything collected will be safely destroyed