| Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office Awarded Grant |
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Sheriff Alan Norman recently announced that the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Office was awarded a Criminal Justice Improvement Grant, to enhance the agency’s prescription drug diversion investigation program. The grant, which was awarded through the North Carolina Governor’s Crime Commission, is for $44,105.43, with a local match of $14,701.81. This grant will fund one full-time and one part-time investigator and equipment.
Prescription drug diversion occurs when prescribed medications are diverted for use as recreational drugs. Drug diversion can occur in three main forms:
• A person goes to several different doctors, receiving prescriptions for potent medications from each and sells what they do not personally use. These medications are often sold alongside illicit drugs, such as crack cocaine and methamphetamines.
• A person steals medication from a family member. They may then abuse the medication themselves or sell it to others. This method is very common because it is easily accessible, free and may not be noticed missing. Many people wrongly believe that if medication is prescribed to someone that it is not dangerous. This problem is compounded when people continue to keep medicine that is no longer needed or has expired.
• Prescription medication is commonly stolen during home burglaries.
The goal of the sheriff’s drug diversion investigation program is to target the problem on several different levels: education, partnership, enforcement and deterrence. The investigators will provide presentations to educate any interested group(s). Of particular interest are senior citizen groups and schools, as these are the most at-risk groups for abuse and/or victimization. The sheriff’s office has partnered with several local groups who have also recognized the dangers of drug diversion. Using a variety of methods, the sheriff’s office will also conduct criminal investigations into those involved with the diversion of prescription medication.
If you’d like to receive additional information regarding this program, please call (704) 484-4817.
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