Colorado U.S. Attorney: investigate opioid overdoses as homicides

The new Colorado U.S. Attorney announced his approach to the opioid epidemic. He wants law enforcement to treat overdoses as homicides.

He says that will put more pressure on those prescribing the drugs.

Colorado U.S. Attorney Jason Dunn says some medical professionals can be just as culpable as street dealers when it comes to feeding addictions. Now he’s asking for law enforcement’s help in holding them both accountable.

Over 500 Coloradoans were killed by opioid overdose in 2017, according to the Colorado Health Institute.

That number may not even come as a surprise as the drug crisis sweeping our state has been well documented.

The problem is doctors and nurses still need to prescribe the painkillers. But some can get in the habit of over-prescribing and can even get caught up in addiction themselves.

You may remember Colorado Springs doctor Agnes Flaum, who now faces three felony drug charges after asking others to fill prescriptions for her. She would often show up to work “out of it” and “slurring her words,” according to the affidavit.

Now Dunn wants those who liberally prescribe opioids to be held accountable.

In Southern Colorado, the Metro Vice, Narcotics and Intelligence Division, also known as Metro VNI, is a multi-agency task force made up of deputies and police officers in the region.

They’re the ones who investigate crimes involving prescription fraud, tracking patterns to identify doctors who may be contributing to abuse or selling drugs outright.

Though holding people accountable for prescribing or selling drugs that result in an overdose can be a little tricky, Dunn hopes local law enforcement can have a hand in making a change.

Dunn says stopping opioid abuse will also impact heroin addiction since so many heroin addicts get their start with legal medicine.