Walgreens pulls OxyContin - St. Petersburg Times

Driven by an increase in prescription drug abuse, pharmacy robberies have surged in recent years.

In just the past two weeks, at least six Tampa Bay area drug stores have been robbed. In all those hold-ups, the robbers demanded drugs – in most cases oxycodone, the active ingredient in OxyContin.

Walgreens spokeswoman Carol Hively said the company pulled OxyContin from some stores out of concern for the safety of customers and employees. Those pharmacies have signs indicating the drug has been pulled, she said.

Pharmacists will direct customers to other stores that still carry the drug. It is unclear how many stores will sell the drug.

Hively said it's rare for Walgreens to pull a drug from stores. She said OxyContin was pulled because it's the "drug of choice" for many pharmacy robbers.

Walgreens pulled OxyContin from some Boston-area stores several years ago and also has pulled the drug from some Nashville stores after robberies increased, Hively said. It's usually a temporary move and ends after arrests are made.

"This is an extreme decision because we don't like to restrict access of OxyContin to legitimate customers," Hively said.

Comments on this article

by John	Apr 11, 2008 2:06 PM
If we still had the personal freedoms that this country was started with this wouldn't be a problem. Make these and other drugs available over the counter just like alcohol is. Use the taxes to make treatment free and available to anyone.

by John	Apr 11, 2008 2:06 PM
Violence decreased after alcohol prohibition. If drugs were legal we could let non violent drug offenders out of jail. Reducing overcrowding and freeing up lots of money. Stop the hypocrisy, if alcohol is legal then other drugs should be too.

by alan	Apr 11, 2008 2:04 PM
i think the pharm should carry a few for the crooks so they can get what they need and try to get the help too anyone can get addicted to this drug ,so help would be the right des, not ignoir the facts,but are they just selling the drug ,maybe not ad

by Mark	Apr 11, 2008 1:56 PM
the state really needs to step up in terms of the use of technology for prescriptions. this is a great drug for people who need it. i feel no sorrow for addicts that get hooked on it and die. they have ruined it for the people that need it.

by JM	Apr 11, 2008 1:56 PM
Start arresting the Drs. The police know who they R Walgreens and CVS know who they R The police and DEA get calls from parents who know who they R The police finally arrested 1 Dr. in Holiday last year A daily line of kids in Dr offices is a clue

by Lisa	Apr 11, 2008 1:48 PM
To those who say opiates should be bannes outright- How many more people die from alcohol and tabacco? These drug are absolutely life savers for thousands in chronic pain. They shouldn't have to suffer additionally.

by Deanna	Apr 11, 2008 1:46 PM
I have chronic pain and need this medicine.I have conflicting thoughts on it though.My brother died from an overdose from this drug.Why not put better regulations on who can get this drug so that they don't become addicted in the first place?

by Deanna	Apr 11, 2008 1:45 PM
One way to ensure that people don't become addicted, is for pharmacists to become vigiliant also,get to know their customers.I am friendly with mine, he knows what my ailments are. They need to learn to watch for red flags w/ their customers.

by Scorps	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
Roger if they lock the criminal in the store with customers and store personnel odds are the drugged out criminal will hurt or kill someone to get out of the store.

by el bar	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
They need to lock up the drug company execs who peddle this scourge opiate.

by Alice	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
Good! I wish they'd take this stuff off of the market since it is being abused so badly. Sucks for those who need it and we can thank those who abuse it.

by JM	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
I know the bleeding heart anti -gunners won't like this but i feel the drugist should be allowed to carry a gun.And i don't mean concealed.A criminal would think twice about robbing a person carring a gun.

by bonker	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
How many addicts do they think read or listen to the news? i would be concerned a robber might thing someone was lying.

by gary	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
I guess this is assuming the crooks can read.

by Elizabeth	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
Unfortunately, this drug is commonly prescribed for cancer patients, and this will make it much harder for them to get the pain relief they desperately need. Such a shame a few people ruin a good drug for the people who need it!

by Lenore	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
Pretty sad that the people that will hurt are the ones that actually need it. The loser drug addicts will just move on to another store.

by jajski	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
good for Walgreens!

by Haven	Apr 7, 2008 12:39 PM
I took oxycontin for yrs w/no problems. Why? Because I needed it for chronic pain and did not abuse it. I have not one whit of sympathy for people who died bec they abused a drug. The only thing they did was prevent legit pain sufferers from relief!

by susan	Apr 7, 2008 12:38 PM
My boyfriend is addicted to the drug and so is a lot of his friends (1 just died) I wish the Dr.'s would stop writing scripts for it so easily!!

by Hoshi	Apr 7, 2008 12:05 PM
You can't blame Walgreens or any drug store for someone elses weaknesses. They have a right to sell their products.

by Betty	Apr 7, 2008 12:04 PM
I recently took OxyContin purchased at Walgreens for pain from surgery. It is too bad legitmate customers have to suffer because of these low lifes.

by brady	Apr 7, 2008 12:04 PM
The fact that drug addicts are robbing drug stores shows how addictive OxyContin is. Thie drug is helpful to those with severe chronic pain, but it is a very dangerous drug and it has resulted in thousands of teenage and young adult deaths.

by Susan	Apr 7, 2008 12:04 PM
For those who require this drug legitimately, this is yet another slap in the face. Why penalize people in chronic pain because of those who are bad? & Maura - it's not the drugs fault - blame the people that abuse them.

by Rodger	Apr 5, 2008 2:22 PM
Why not install some sort of automatic lock's on the doors so the criminal can just wait up in the front of the store for the cops. I cant beleive they would pull a 10 cent pill off the shelf that they sell for 4 bucks each. THATS CRIMINAL ITSEL

by LN	Apr 5, 2008 2:21 PM
The guy in the photo looks familiar. Any chance we can get a description? How tall is he? Any distinguishing marks?

by MAURA	Apr 4, 2008 4:18 PM
YEAH WELL ALL I CAN SAY IS THAT IS LONG OVERDUE THEY CAN KEEP IT OFF THE SHELF BUT IF THEY DID THAT THEY JUST MIGHT SAVE SOMEONE'S LIFE IN MEMORY OF SHANNON M. PIERSON 06/13/1987-03/03/07