“In the past 4 years, 85% of overdose cases in the state of MS were related to opioids.”
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics director John Dowdy says opiods (whether heroine or prescription pain pills) are so pervasive in Mississippi, the problem is epidemic.
“We are in the top 5 prescribing states in the US. Last year, there were enough opioids prescribed that every single person in the state of Mississippi- from infant to elderly – could have had 70 doseage units” said Dowdy. He says it’s an indicator of the prescription writing habits of medial professionals in the state.
Thursday, 11 people were arrested in Rankin County for their role in a prescription pill ring involving a Brandon doctor. According to Dowdy, Steven Tinshere was doling out prescriptions in exchange for cash. Pictured are 7 of those arrested.
TOP ROW: Steven Goode, Matthew Peacock, Lisa Willoughby
SECOND ROW: Elizabeth Blackmon, Jay Darby, Lisa Dellapenna
THIRD ROW: Courtney Brown
