HAMILTON — In what authorities are calling a symptom of Butler County's growing problem with OxyContin abuse, a Hamilton couple has been indicted on 40 prescription-drug offenses, half of them involving the potent painkiller.

        Charles Howland, 42, and his wife, LaDonna, 32, are scheduled for arraignment May 11 before Butler County Common Pleas Judge H.J. Bressler.

        Their case is among about 30 active OxyContin cases being handled by the Butler County Sheriff's Office, said Sgt. John Sons, head of the sheriff's drug investigations.

        “More than 50 percent of our cases are OxyContin,” he said Wednesday. At this time last year, sheriff's investigators were processing just a handful of cases involving the prescription drug.
       

Pharmacists warned

        Agent Randy Lambert, who handled the Howland investigation, said he's sending 500 newsletters to pharmacists, warning them to be on alert for possible OxyContin abusers.

        “We're probably seeing more of a problem with OxyContin than we are with anything else right now,” Agent Lambert said. "We're starting to hit the pharmaceutical investigations a lot harder right now because of the problem we're seeing in Butler County.”

        One of the main reasons for the drug's abuse: It's easy to get, Agent Lambert said.

        After a two-month investigation, the Howlands both were indicted last week on 20 counts of deception to obtain a dangerous drug. When the charge involves OxyContin, it's a fourth-degree felony, punishable by up to 18 months in prison.

        Ten of the counts against Mr. Howland involve OxyContin; eight, hydrocodone, a short-acting narcotic pain-reliever; and two, the tranquilizer Valium.

        Mrs. Howland is accused of 10 counts relating to OxyContin; six, hydrocodone; three, Valium; and one, a painkiller called Lorcet.
       

Doctor to doctor

        Butler County Assistant Prosecutor Brenda Cox said the pair went to at least a half-dozen doctors, mostly in Hamilton, and got prescriptions for the drugs.

        “They were on quite a spree,” she said.

        The pair, accused of offenses dating to February 2000, committed deception by failing to tell the doctors that they had already received other prescriptions, Ms. Cox said.

        “Our evidence will show, I believe, that some of (the drugs) were sold ... and they used some of them as well,” Ms. Cox said.

        Lyn Cunningham and Thad Willard, the couple's lawyers, did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday.

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