New Jersey's Battle against Pharmaceutical Drugs
In 2008, New Jersey had a total of 42,173 arrests for the possession and usage of drugs. A growing percentage of the total drug arrests were attributed to the use of prescription drugs. According to the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), New Jersey has one of the highest concentrations of pharmaceutical and chemical firms in the United States. The DEA has seen an increase in the number of crimes associated with prescription forgery and organized prescription drug script rings.
Some of the most frequently abused prescription drugs include Percocet, OxyContin, Xanax, and Vicodin. When used as directed, the prescription drugs serve as painkillers for a variety of medical conditions. On the other hand, if not used properly, these prescription drugs can be abused.
During the years of 2006-2007, NSDUH found that 257,000 of New Jersey residents used drugs for non-medical pain reliever use. In a survey involving a New Jersey high school, it was discovered that 11% of students surveyed had used inhalers for drug abuse.
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