By Emily Murray
Since the days of childhood we have long associated the pleasant melody of the ice cream truck with happiness, summer time, vacation and overall joy. But for those living in certain Staten Island neighborhoods it was actually the sound of their drug dealer in disguise.
As reported by CBS New York, 31 people were arrested in a drug ring bust that operated by selling oxycodone pills out of an ice cream truck, proving that people will go to great lengths to disguise their drug selling business.
What some might say is a “clever” cover, others see as downright dangerous. These individuals managed to carry around thousands of pills which they are accused of receiving when they wrote themselves countless prescriptions after swiping prescription pads from local doctors.
In order to keep their true mission disguised, these drug dealers would sell frozen treats to the kids out of their “Lickety Split” ice cream truck and then offer their illegal goods to adults eagerly awaiting their fix.
What is Oxycodone?
The definition from Drug.com –
“Oxycodone is in a group of drugs called narcotic pain relievers. It is similar to morphine.Oxycodone is used to treat moderate to severe pain. The extended-release form of this medication is for around-the-clock treatment of pain. It is not for treating pain just after a surgery unless you were already taking oxycodone before the surgery.”
It is also known for causing a relaxing feeling and is misused by thousands of people each day across the country.
According to the article, in this drug bust alone the suspects are believed to have sold more than 40,000 tablets, bringing in an estimated $1 million.
But these are legal drugs right?
This is just one of the recent examples of drug busts involving prescription medications. Many people have the misconception that these medications can be abused without any reprocutions because they are legal and prescribed by a doctor. The key here is that a doctor must prescribe the pills to YOU, when you receive them elsewhere this is a crime and actually a very dangerous one.
Counterfeits
Recently Viagra and other ED medications have been in the news as overseas websites and back room illegal pharmacies continue to be discovered. For those willing to take the risk with not only their own lives but the lives of others, counterfeiting medications can be a profitable gig…that is until you are discovered. These criminals often pass off completely fake and contaminated medications as the real thing to unsuspecting people online. These counterfeits often include dangerous chemicals and strange filler ingredients to make them look more realistic including things like chalk and cement dust.
When it comes to prescription drugs, never take them from someone else. When you are dealing with ED medications, also keep in mind that many of these fake medications are sold under the cloak of being “generic,” versions. This simply is not the case. Until the current patents run out on Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, there will not be an FDA approved generic form. Any site which claims that they carry it should be avoided at all costs.