More than 40 law enforcement officials from King, Pierce, Snohomish, and Skagit counties attended a pharmaceutical drug diversion training in Bellevue on Feb. 16 to learn how to fight illegal trafficking and abuse of prescription medications. The seminar was hosted by the Bellevue Police Chief Linda Pillo and the Bellevue Police Department and presented by FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association and pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma.

Experts in pharmaceutical diversion from Purdue’s Corporate Security department provided the training during the one-day summit, which covered several topics including prescription drug identification, lawful prescribing and prevention of diversion and pharmaceutical counterfeiting. Attendees also learned about what law enforcement officials can do to deter pharmacy theft.

“Abuse of prescription medicine is dangerous and problematic, as with any illicit drug. Law enforcement and community members need to join forces to fight this crime,”

“Training seminars like this one are geared toward further educating the men and women who are fighting hard to keep drugs out of the hands of people who choose to abuse them,” said Officer Carla Iafrate, Public Information Officer of the Bellevue Police Department. “Education is an essential tool in tackling the growing problem of prescription drug abuse.”

Landon Gibbs, director of Law Enforcement Liaison & Education at Purdue, also discussed how the illegal trafficking and abuse of prescription medications can interfere with the care of people with serious illnesses and injuries.

“These medications have a legitimate purpose when used as directed,” Gibbs said. “However, abusing prescription medications can have dangerous and even deadly consequences and can make it harder for people who need these medications to get them.”