Next Phase of Drug War Lands on City’s Doorstep | News, Sports, Jobs

The drug war has entered a new phase, as now dealers are able to manufacture fake “prescription” pain pills using fentanyl, a synthetic opioid that the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration says is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine.

By using fentanyl, dealers both are able to manufacture a drug cheaper while also potentially getting users more addicted. Counterfeit pills containing fentanyl are being marketed online as legitimate prescription pills, and police are seizing the fake pharmaceuticals at a rate 50 times greater than just four years ago, U.S. Attorney William Ihlenfeld said.

On Thursday, Ihlenfeld outlined how this new phase of the drug war is hitting close to home. He detailed the March arrest by West Virginia State Police of Christopher Thomas of Thornville, Ohio, who had in his possession fetanyl and a pill press used for making fake Xanax pills. Ihlenfeld said this arrest should have local residents on guard.

“Mr. Thomas had a portable laboratory in his car and possessed everything necessary to make his own tablets and sell them to unsuspecting customers in the Ohio Valley,” he said. “Folks like Mr. Thomas don’t have a degree in chemistry. He is not concerned with quality control …”

There is it. Fake pills being sold online, without a prescription. Fake pills possibly being manufactured and sold, right here in our city.

“This is a problem that is exploding. This is a problem that is in real time. This is the greatest threat we face when it comes to drug law enforcement,” Ihlenfeld said.

Talk to your children and grandchildren about this. It could end up saving their lives.