[StBernard] Young people becoming addicted to drug intended to help with addiction

[Westley Annis]

Young people becoming addicted to drug intended to help with addiction 

There is growing drug problems in St. Bernard Parish, and we're not talking
about street drugs. Authorities say the drug of choice is becoming a
substance used to treat addiction.

Little orange pills are becoming more and more of a problem in St. Bernard
Parish especially with young people, minors and adults. It's Suboxone,
intended to help people not feel so sick when they're trying to kick a
heroin habit. However, it's being used illegally.

"We're finding it loose and wrapped in silver foil or just placed in an
individual's possession with out any evidence of prescription," said Judge
Manny Fernandez, 34th Judicial District Court.

Fernandez says he's seeing more cases like this coming into the courtroom.
He acknowledges Suboxone is valuable when it's taken under a doctor's
supervision for rehabilitation.

It has addictive effects in addition to its therapeutic effects and it can
be used to give a person an artificial high. In many cases we suspect is
used as an addictive drug, outside of its therapeutic values.

"I think its being seen a lot across the nation. The symptoms we see here in
St. Bernard is that prescription pills and substance abuse continues to be a
problem," said St. Bernard Parish Sheriff's Office's Chief Deputy James
Pohlmann.

The sheriff's office says when properly prescribed Suboxone costs about $8 a
pill but they're finding them on the streets for as much as $20 a pill.

"When it becomes commonplace on the street, when it's used illicitly, it
becomes a danger to all of us," Fernandez said.

But abuse of this potentially dangerous pill has consequences. Illegal
possession of Suboxone is a felony with a minimum sentence of 5 years in
jail.