THOMASVILLE, Ga. — Narcotics agents are looking for hypodermic syringes and needles used to inject illicit drugs. Officers are looking in the dark, in homes, in vehicles and in motel rooms, among other locations.

On Tuesday night, Thomasville-Thomas County Narcotics/Vice Division agents responded to a traffic stop made by a Thomasville police officer. The suspect at the traffic stop told officers he had diabetes, but could not provide medical information a diabetic would know.

“He has been arrested multiple times for meth,” Louis Schofill, Thomas County-Thomasville Narcotics/Vice Division commander, said.

Finding needles is definitely on the rise, Schofill told the Thomasville-Thomas County Drug Commission at the panel’s monthly meeting Wednesday.

“Methamphetamine and pain pills are the two most common things we see with needles,” he said.

On Friday, narcotics agents found a woman with five packages of unopened needles in her possession.

A woman staying at a U.S. 19 South motel had needles in her purse and stuck in vents in the motel room. 

“And there was a 5-year-old kid in the room,” Schofill explained.

Addicts are using narcotic painkillers — Oxycontin, hydrocodone and Lorcet. The pain pills are crushed, mixed with water and injected, according to officers.

“It goes directly into the blood stream,” Keith Newman, assistant commander, told the group.

The hypodermic syringes and needles are purchased at local stores. 

“They’re readily available,” Schofill said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820