‘Countless lives saved’: Substance abuse specialist reacts to historic drug bust in Rhode Island

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Department of Justice announced on Monday the single largest drug bust of counterfeit Adderall pills in the United States and largest seizure of methamphetamine in New England history.

Linda Hurley, the CEO and president of CODAC, said it’s impossible to put a number on how many lives this saved — but said how remarkable it is, especially because Adderall is a prescription drug used throughout all age groups to treat things as common as ADHD.

Hurley said drugs laced with methamphetamine has different side effects for everyone, which can be especially dangerous when combined with Adderall — both stimulants.

“It’s not like Adderall and methamphetamine is 2 plus 2 equals 4. It’s like Adderall and methamphetamine is 2 plus 2 equals 64,” Hurley added.

Hurley said lacing street drugs with methamphetamine guarantees “steady” customers for dealers once they get addicted.

“They think, ‘Oh, if it’s at the high school or kids are doing it at school, it’s safe’,” added Hurley.

In 2021, the Department of Justice said 435 Rhode Islanders died from opioid related deaths, a number that is expected to rise this year.

Hurley said the most important thing for parents is to talk to their children about the importance of laced drugs and only taking prescriptions from a doctor.

CODAC is Rhode Island’s largest, nonprofit outpatient provider of treatment for Opioid Use Disorder.