Pubdate: Sun, 24 Mar 2002 Source: Denver Rocky Mountain News (CO) Copyright: 2002, Denver Publishing Co. Contact: http://www.rockymountainnews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/371 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?186 (Oxycontin) KSP BEGIN DRUG ARRESTS Kentucky State Police began arresting more than 100 suspects around the state Wednesday in the culmination of a six-month investigation of street-level drug abuse. State police spokeswoman Lt. Lisa Rudzinski said those arrested are users and traffickers. Although the investigation concentrated on prescription drug abuse, Rudzinski said no doctors or pharmacists are among those charged. Charges range from simple possession of marijuana, a misdemeanor, to trafficking in controlled substances, a class C felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison. Most of the charges involve abuse of prescription drugs such as OxyContin, Lortab and Xanax as well as illicit substances such as cocaine and methamphetamine. Arrests will be made in each of the 16 state police post areas, though Rudzinski said the eastern portion of the state has a larger share of the arrests. More than 200 charges will be levied. The investigation was code-named "Operation Rx." - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager