FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS SAY THEY'VE BROKEN UP AN OPERATION IN THE ALBUQUERQUE AREA IN WHICH PEOPLE USED FAKE PRESCRIPTIONS TO OBTAIN THE PAIN MEDICATION OXYCODONE. A TOTAL OF 14 PEOPLE FACE FEDERAL CHARGES...AND SEVEN MORE ARE CHARGED IN STATE COURT. TWENTY OF THE 21 DEFENDANTS WERE ARRESTED THURSDAY MORNING.
THE D-E-A IN ALBUQUERQUE AND THE NEW MEXICO BOARD OF PHARMACY STARTED THE INVESTIGATION IN MARCH OF 2011 FOLLOWING WHAT PROSECUTORS SAY WAS AN EPIDEMIC INCREASE IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG ABUSE AND OVERDOSE DEATHS.