Prescription Pill Problems in Marlborough

While recent brazen alleged use of heroin and arrests related to the drug have drawn attention drug issues, the problem in Marlborough remains prescription drugs, according to police officials.

"We are seeing a lot more of the prescription abuse," said Marlborough Police Detective David Giorgi. “I think the prescription medication. That is the most prevelant we see."

The problem with prescription drugs spreads throughout all levels of society and age in the city, he said. From adult users to children, the problem is not limited to one population.

“We’ve seen it in the schools with kids," said Det. Giorgi.

Often a source of these pills for children is their parent's medicine cabinets, he said. The danger with this comes when children take pills they do not fully understand the affects of or how they may interact with other drugs or medications.

“The dangerous part of it is they don’t necessarily know what they are taking," said the detective.

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Not everyone is getting their pills from someone's valid prescription, he said. In these cases, there is only so much that the local police can do.

“We can arrest the people who have the medication but that is not stopping the supply of it,” said Det. Giorgi.

Marlborough Police have partnered with the Drug Enforcement Agency to help battle the supply side of the problem.

“They look at the doctors end of it,” said Det Giorgi. “They focus on the doctors that are writing the prescriptions."

These issues do not mean that the city is unsafe for residents or their children, he said.

“I don’t think Marlborough is any different than any place else," said Det. Giorgi. “You can go into smaller towns around us ... and everybody has the drug issues.”