Sheriff issues warning after drug arrest: Fake prescription pills

LAKE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW) – The Lake County Sheriff’s Office is issuing a warning about fake prescription drugs after a recent drug arrest in the county.

According to a news release from the sheriff’s office, deputies arrested a driver on State Route 2 near State Route 44 in Painesville Township for having 325 blue pills in a plastic baggy that were labeled with the markings “M” and “30.”

According to the release, the 325 pills were made to look like Oxycodone or OxyContin, when they were actually fentanyl-laced fake pills.

Opioids such as OxyContin are “one of the most abused and trafficked drugs leading to serious addiction and death,” the release said.

“Over the past few years physicians have substantially limited prescribing opioids and the amount they will prescribe for pain,” the release said. “As a result, drug dealers have tried to capitalize on this addiction and have begun selling drugs that look like prescription medications.”

According to the release, fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin.

“Never take a tablet or any prescription medication that does not come from a licensed healthcare provider,” the release said. “Drug dealers are not around because they care about your pain or your health. They simply want to use your life to make money.”

The suspect arrested who was arrested for carrying the 325 fake pills was charged with possession of controlled substance bulk and tampering with evidence. He was issued citations for having no operator’s license and driving under suspension.

According to the release, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office is committed to increasing its presence on the county’s streets and highways to put a stop to drugs, weapons and human trafficking moving through the area.

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