Illegal painkillers and the war against drug abuse highlighted a busy morning at one local courthouse.
Drug task force agents processed about two dozen suspects rounded up in a morning raid-- most charged with felony drug trafficking, selling prescription painkillers on the street.
“We need more education on the pain killer problem,” Task Force Manager Lain Dalrymple said.
Congressman Hal Rogers and other federal and state drug control leaders educated the public. Rogers said the task force success come in part from importing out of town undercover agents not familiar to the local dealers.
“You don't see them, they excel at their job, they get all the video and audio evidence needed,” Hal Rogers said.
Kentucky's Inspector General announced improvements to the successful Kaspar prescription tracking system will now include monitoring border state doctor shopping, and tracking ingredients used in making meth.
“So we will know electronically when how much psudeophedreine is purchased,” KY Inspector General Steven Davis said.
The congressman says on the drug treatment front, Easten Kentucky addicts struggling to get in a center can get up to ten thousand dollar vouchers to go where help is accessible.
“You can go to Florida, to NY, we will pay, but only once,” Rogers said.
Congressman Rogers say five new drug treatment centers will soon open throughout Eastern Kentucky.