Narcotics Division
Almost every family in Walker County has had a negative experience with a loved one that has abused drugs. The Walker County Sheriff's Office continues to fight the drug problem with these families in mind. A majority of crime in Walker County can be attributed to the use, possession, or sale of illegal drugs. If you have a tip you may contact Captain Ralph Williams, or Sergeant Josh Edwards. You may also contact the Sheriff's Office at (205) 302-6464 or submit your tip via email to the following email address: drugtip@walkercountysheriff.com
Captain Ralph B. Williams - (205) 302-6464
Sgt. Tony Reid
Captain Ralph B. Williams - (205) 302-6464
Sgt. Tony Reid
Prescription Diversion/Pharmaceuticals
The amount of prescription drug abuse cases in our county is growing and is very close to the number one problem, as it is hard for doctors to measure pain with certainty. This creates an opportunity for people to deceive doctors and receive very powerful pharmaceutical drugs and then turn around and sell them on the street. Prescription drug abuse simply does not get the attention and publicity that Methamphetamine labs and Heroin sales do. It runs a close second to Methamphetamine as far as attention and publicity due to the physical and psychological effects of Methamphetamine abuse and the danger that Meth Labs pose to the community. There are approximately 900 deaths a year in Walker County and the number of deaths from prescription drug overdose are proportionally greater than that of Murder, Suicide, or traffic accident fatalities. The reason it does not get the same publicity is due to the respect that has to be shown to families who have lost a loved one by not publishing the cause of death. It has been astounding to discover through the investigations, the magnitude of narcotics abuse via prescriptions going on in all areas of our communities. It has also been astounding to discover that sometimes a very small number of Doctors are facilitating this abuse and to also discover just how much the law enforcement system cannot do to these doctors because of red tape. Investigations such as these require the help of Federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). You can ask almost any pill pusher or pill user which doctors they all use to get their pills and when the same names come up time and time again, year after year, you will understand why we are concerned. The amount of time and attention required to investigate this abuse is substantial. On average, the Walker County Sheriff's Office arrests approximately 80 to 100 people a year for prescription drug abuse.
The amount of prescription drug abuse cases in our county is growing and is very close to the number one problem, as it is hard for doctors to measure pain with certainty. This creates an opportunity for people to deceive doctors and receive very powerful pharmaceutical drugs and then turn around and sell them on the street. Prescription drug abuse simply does not get the attention and publicity that Methamphetamine labs and Heroin sales do. It runs a close second to Methamphetamine as far as attention and publicity due to the physical and psychological effects of Methamphetamine abuse and the danger that Meth Labs pose to the community. There are approximately 900 deaths a year in Walker County and the number of deaths from prescription drug overdose are proportionally greater than that of Murder, Suicide, or traffic accident fatalities. The reason it does not get the same publicity is due to the respect that has to be shown to families who have lost a loved one by not publishing the cause of death. It has been astounding to discover through the investigations, the magnitude of narcotics abuse via prescriptions going on in all areas of our communities. It has also been astounding to discover that sometimes a very small number of Doctors are facilitating this abuse and to also discover just how much the law enforcement system cannot do to these doctors because of red tape. Investigations such as these require the help of Federal agencies such as the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). You can ask almost any pill pusher or pill user which doctors they all use to get their pills and when the same names come up time and time again, year after year, you will understand why we are concerned. The amount of time and attention required to investigate this abuse is substantial. On average, the Walker County Sheriff's Office arrests approximately 80 to 100 people a year for prescription drug abuse.
Heroin
Heroin is an opiate drug that can be in the form of a white or brown powder or as a sticky black substance, known as “black tar heroin.” It can be ingested in several routes of administration that quickly deliver the drug to the brain. Injecting the substance with the use of a needle allows the user to place the drug directly into the bloodstream. The drug can also be snorted, where it enters the bloodstream through the nose tissue. The drug can also enter the body through smoking. All three methods of ingesting heroin can lead to addiction and severe health problems. |
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is potentially the number one threat to our citizen’s safety in the area of illegal drugs. The physiological and psychological damage that accompanies Methamphetamine use is exponentially greater than that of other illegal drugs. The process of Manufacturing the Methamphetamine poses a danger to citizens as the labs may catch fire or cause an explosion. The chemicals used and the chemical vapors are highly carcinogenic and deadly. This can often lead homes uninhabitable from contamination. The entire process of Manufacturing Methamphetamine or "cooking meth" is to take Ephedrine/Pseudoephedrine and remove one (1) oxygen atom from the chemical structure to make methamphetamine. You can take a harmless nasal decongestant, remove the one (1) oxygen atom, and create one of the most addictive substances known to man. We currently have 3 deputies certified to process and collect Methamphetamine Labs who are also hazmat certified: Captain Ralph Williams, Sergeant Blair Huddleston, and Sergeant Josh Edwards. |
*Average number of arrests are based on previous arrest and seizure records and may vary from year to year.