Agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics often stay in the shadows as they hunt down drug offenders, but one appeared at a podium Tuesday for the McComb Lions Club.
MBN Agent Charles Causey offered his perspective on combating the spread of drugs in southwest Mississippi.
He said the agency doubled in size recently, going from four to eight agents for the area. Causey works out of the District 9 office in McComb. He and other agents cover nine counties in southwest Mississippi.
Drugs such as marijuana and cocaine are still prevalent in the area, but the biggest shift in illegal drug usage has been toward prescription drugs such as hydrocodone and oxycodone, Causey said.
“It’s everywhere. That’s what is unfortunate for society. And they are relatively easy to obtain,” he said.
“You probably have some of these medications in your medicine cabinet — not to abuse, but for pain,” he said.
Most prescription drug overdoses are accidental, Causey said, meaning users believed they were following safe protocols when they took them.
These overdoses account for 90 percent of all drug overdoses and kill 300 Americans a week — more than cocaine and heroin combined, Causey said.
“Since it’s not considered as dangerous as the other drugs and a doctor prescribes it, people don’t realize how potent it can be. That’s why I believe there are so many overdoses,” Causey said.
The popularity of such drugs has led to a flood of related burglaries including area drugstores.
“Drug stores in Gloster have been hit a couple times. So has Tylertown. They are coming in and know exactly what they are looking for when the rob the place. These pills are extremely valuable on the street,” Causey said.
“Today’s drug dealers aren’t what people think they are,” said District Attorney Dee Bates, a Lions Club member who introduced Causey.
Bates said he has been involved with cases involving offenders over the age of 70 — one of them living in a senior assistance home. With easy access to pharmaceuticals, they can make a quick buck out of their medication, he said.
Causey recommended precautionary measures for those who have valid prescriptions. He said be sure all medication is kept safely away from children who might be able to get to it. He also said there is a drop box at the Highway Patrol office in Lincoln County where residents can drop off old and unneeded pills.
Causey said Pike and surrounding counties still have a problem with traditional drugs such as marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines. One problem with meth stems from Pike County’s location.
Pseudoephedrine and ephedrine are key ingredients in the manufacture of meth. In 2010, the Mississippi Legislature made it illegal to buy those drugs without a prescription. However, these ingredients can still be obtained without a prescription in Louisiana, and meth cooks can cross over to buy the ingredients.
Two Lions Club members asked what they should do if they suspect drug use. “Let us get involved. That’s the simple answer,” Causey said.
