The new drug of choice is not an illicit substance found only in the dark alley ways and parts of town known for criminal activity.
  Instead the hottest craze can be found in the medicine cabinet of any suburban home with well manicured lawns and picturesque neighborhoods.
 Prescription drug abuse is rapidly becoming an epidemic that is manifesting related crimes in big cities and small towns alike.
  In order to support drug addictions, abusers are resorting to robbing pharmacies (at gun Point), raiding hospital medical supply closets, and has created a rise in employee theft.
  The problem has become so pervasive that a number of local law enforcement agencies have assigned a special task force to focus exclusively on the matter of crimes associated with prescription drugs.
  In spite of budget shortfalls and mandatory furloughs, this issue demands the attention of employment and political leaders.
  The potential for harm is a continuous threat to both innocent citizens and to the individual committing the offense.
  The public is at risk when a would be robber needs a fix and decides to rob the local pharmacy for prescription drugs and cash.
  These facilities serve the public, many of them being seniors, in providing vital services designed to enhance quality of life - and even sustaining life in some instances.
  It is incredibly selfish that an individual or small group of people would jeopardize the lives and well being of so many people for a moment of instant gratification.
  Moreover, the perpetrators also endanger themselves in pursuit of oxycotin, vicodin, percocet, or demerol.
  Obviously there is a real possibility of being wounded or even shot to death while committing a robbery.
  In addition, taking prescription medications of any kind without the supervision of a doctor is inherently dangerous in and of itself.
Most of the prescription drugs being abused are pain killers.
  This begs the question, why are people in so much pain, either physical or mental?  There is no denying the fact that our society is much more fast paced than that of the previous generation.
  The stressors of life are now extended to include paying for water and the privilege of watching television.
  Maybe the overuse of pain pills is one way of coping, or not, with all the demands of modern life.
  The narcotics don't render us non-functional, but they do numb the pain.
  It would be disheartening if this was an isolated incident, but too many members of the population now pop pills just to make it through the day.
  They go to work or operate a motor vehicle, but we have to wonder how alert they really are.
  This is only exacerbated by driving while texting (or sexting) and an overall state of preoccupation.
  This is pure conjecture on my part, but perhaps we are experiencing mass paranoia and are fearful that it will all come crashing down around us any day now.
  In the meantime, some of us must remain clear headed so that we'll know what to do when it all falls apart at the seams.