Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) staff were special guests at the April 17 meeting of the Henryetta Rotary Club. The meeting was held at First Family Federal Credit Union’s (FFFCU)
Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics (OBN) staff were special guests at the April 17 meeting of the Henryetta Rotary Club.
The meeting was held at First Family Federal Credit Union’s (FFFCU) Corporate Headquarters at 315 W. Main in Henryetta with a pasta lunch provided by The Shack.
OBN Director and Schulter High School graduate John Scully, Public Information Officer Mark Woodward, ODMAP Program Specialist Angie Woodrow and Chief Agent Mel Woodrow discussed various aspects of drug threats in Oklahoma.
According to Chief Agent Woodrow, the top issue across not only Oklahoma, but the United States, is prescription drug addiction.
“The two reasons the addiction numbers have risen are due to accessibility and affordability,” Chief Agent Woodrow said. “The most abused (and addictive) prescribed painkiller is Hydrocodone followed by Oxycodone.”
Over the past few years, overdose deaths from those drugs have increased by 145%.
“Since 2011, we have collected over 165,000 pounds of prescription medications,” he said.
Methamphetamine is considered by OBN to be the highest used drug in Oklahoma on city, county and state levels. It kills more Oklahomans than any other street drug, OBN staff said.
According to Chief Agent Woodrow, Methamphetamine was developed in 1919. It became popular and was widely used during World War II to help soldiers stay awake, fight longer and move further, he said.
Discovered in 1874, Heroine was introduced to the public by Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Woodward added.
OBN staff also said the agency has seen a rise of accessibility in Oklahoma for Cocaine use.
“We have a great responsibility to stop these loads of drugs from coming into the U.S.,” Chief Agent Woodrow said.
Currently, OBN has five education officers that travel to schools across the state to educate youth on the dangers of drugs.
The top two goals of OBN are to reduce the deaths of citizens from street and prescription drugs and to improve the quality of life in communities across the state.
During the forum, Mark Woodward discussed safe trips for scripts and Marijuana Eradication, Oklahoma Drug Endangered Children, Meth Waste Container and Prescription Monitoring programs.
Angie Woodrow gave an overview of ODMapping.
Director Scully presented a future outlook, summary, wrap-up and dismissal with a question and answer session.
For more information about OBN or if you have questions or concerns, call 800-522-8031, email: drugtips@obn.state.ok.us or visit: www.obn.gov/obndd/.
