Experts say prescription pill abuse leads New Jersey teenagers to heroin addiction

Experts say prescription pill abuse leads N.J. teenagers to heroin addiction

Published: Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 11:25 AM Updated: Wednesday, June 15, 2011, 11:26 AM

By Megan DeMarco/Statehouse Bureau
Follow

TRENTON — The use of prescription pills is becoming more prevalent among teenagers and is leading to heroin addiction, according to several experts currently testifying before the State Commission of Investigation.

The hearing is focusing on how teenagers gain access to prescription drugs, and how that addiction turns into a heroin addiction.

Prescription pills like Xanax are easily accessible to teenagers, and a "gateway drug" to heroin, law enforcement experts say.

Teenagers, more so in suburban areas, are getting pills from their parents' medicine cabinets, experts say. When pills become too expensive and provide an insufficient high, they turn to heroin.

Pills don't carry the same stigma as heroin, so it's not as big of a deal, experts say.

"Because the pills were manufactured for a legitimate medical purpose they don't have the same stigma," said Investigative Agent Rachel Denno.

According to the federal Center for Disease Control, 60 percent of prescription abuse users begin abusing pills before the age of 15.

The recent increase is occurring, in part, because of technological advances, Denno said. Drug dealers and users can use prepaid cell phones, internet sites and smart phone applications to get around law enforcement.

One confidential informant, via videotape, said his addiction began at 12-years-old. He started swallowing pills, which progressed to snorting, then injecting pills such as OxyContin and Xanax. When his body adjusted its tolerance level, and pills became too expensive, he turned to heroin.

"At that point it was desperation, it was complete desperation to the point where, wow I'm not getting high," said the informant, now 21 and clean for almost a year.

"When you start pills, you never touch heroin. That's disgusting, you know," the informant said. "It never crosses your mind until you get to that point."

The hearing, scheduled until 1 p.m., will also include two more confidential informants and several more law enforcement experts.

SCI commissioners hope the hearing and investigation will lead to legislative changes.

"To put it bluntly, today's young Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin users are becoming tomorrow's heroin junkies," said Commission Chair Patrick Hobbs.

"This hearing is a major first step toward airing these difficult issues."