DEA Hosted Illegal Internet Pharmaceutical Websites Symposium

JUL 10 -- JOHN P. GILBRIDE, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration, New York Field Division hosted a three hour seminar on “Illegal Internet Pharmaceutical Websites.” This innovative and informative program was designed to raise awareness of educators, students, medical personnel, political leaders and those in the pharmaceutical industry regarding the dangers of pharmaceutical drugs illegally purchased and distributed via the internet. Over 300 law enforcement personnel, drug counselors, educators, parents and medical professionals attended the symposium.

Front row from left: Moira Gibbons, Lisa Robin, Linda Surks, SAC John Gilbride, Chief Matthew Murphy, Dr. Roberta Blotner. Back Row from left: DI Luis Carrion, Honorable Scott Burns and AUSA Ray Lohier

SAC Gilbride noted results of The National Institute on Drug Abuse’s 2006 Monitoring the Future survey that found there has been an approximate 23% decline over the last five years in the past month use of any illicit drug for students in the 8 th, 10 th and 12 th grade. However, of significant concern was the finding that past-year use of Vicodin remained high among all three grades, with nearly one in ten high school seniors using it in the past year. And the rate of OxyContin use among 8 th graders nearly doubled between 2002 and 2006.

SAC Gilbride stated, “These numbers are dramatic and prove to us that we need to inform the prescription generation about the dangers of illegally abusing prescription drugs in addition to informing the public of the methods used to obtain these narcotics.”

The symposium consisted of the following speakers: Matthew Murphy - DEA Section Chief for the Pharmaceutical Investigations Section, the Honorable Scott Burns - Deputy Director for the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Lisa Robin - Vice President of Leadership and Legislative Services for the Federation of State Medical Boards, Moira Gibbons - Legal Affairs Senior Manager for the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Harold Wenglinsky - The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at Columbia University (CASA) , Ray Lohier - Chief of Narcotics for the US Attorney's Office, Southern District of New York and Linda Surks, mother of Jason Surks who died from pharmaceutical drugs attained via Internet.

The Illegal Internet Pharmaceutical Websites symposium was held at John Jay College of Criminal Justice between the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event was conducted in the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York, 899 Tenth Avenue, NY, New York.