Who is the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition?

Our mission is to reverse the trend of mass incarceration in Colorado. We are a coalition of nearly 7,000 individual members and over 100 faith and community organizations who have united to stop perpetual prison expansion in Colorado through policy and sentence reform.

Our chief areas of interest include drug policy reform, women in prison, racial injustice, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the problems associated with re-entry and stopping the practice of using private prisons in our state.

If you would like to be involved please go to our website and become a member.


Monday, February 28, 2011

Prescription-drug abuse a growing pain for law enforcement - The Denver Post

Prescription-drug abuse a growing pain for law enforcement - The Denver Post

The number of people who abuse painkillers in Colorado is on the rise and the problem is manifesting itself in a string of recent pharmacy robberies, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration.

"The Hooded Pain-Med Bandit," a young dark-haired man with a gun tucked in his waistband, has hit three Walgreens pharmacies in Wheat Ridge and Arvada since December, police say.

The latest occurred Feb. 12 in Arvada when he lifted his shirt, flashed the gun and ordered the pharmacist to hand over painkillers.

In Wheat Ridge, he specifically demanded Oxycontin and Vicodin.

"Obviously, this is concerning because an addict, or someone desperate, who is trying to steal narcotics is also armed," said Arvada police Cmdr. Aaron Jacks.

The numbers of people who died from prescription-drug abuse rose 95 percent in Colorado in almost a decade, according to the DEA.

In 2000, there were 228 deaths in the state linked to prescription drugs. By 2009, 445 people died from abusing painkillers in Colorado.

In Denver, 70 percent of the drug-related deaths are attributable to painkillers, said Kevin Merrill, acting special agent in charge of the DEA's Denver division.


Read more: Prescription-drug abuse a growing pain for law enforcement - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_17498480#ixzz1FGSYUoVl
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