Citing The Star-Ledger's 'Strong at Any Cost' series, Assemblyman McKeon asked Dow to explore whether criminal charges may be brought against illegal drug users
N.J. Attorney General Paula Dow in this February 2010 file photo in Trenton.TRENTON — The deputy speaker of the Assembly today called on Attorney General Paula Dow to investigate the use of anabolic steroids and human growth hormone among New Jersey’s law enforcement officers and firefighters.
Citing the findings of seven-month investigation by The Star-Ledger, Assemblyman John McKeon (D-Essex) asked Dow to explore whether criminal charges can be brought against those who used the drugs when they weren’t medically necessary and who paid for them with their government benefits, leaving taxpayers with the bill.
In a letter to Dow, McKeon also asked the attorney general to examine how such abuses could be prevented in the future.
"These people should go to jail," McKeon said in a statement. "They shouldn’t be on the public dole for substances that are, for the most part, illegal and might constitute insurance fraud."
The first two installments of the newspaper’s three-day series, "Strong At Any Cost," showed how hundreds of law enforcement officers and firefighters obtained prescriptions from a Jersey City doctor, Joseph Colao, who often falsified diagnoses to justify dispensing steroids and growth hormone.
A three-part Star-Ledger series on the secret world of steroid use by law enforcement officers and firefighters.
• About this series
• List of law enforcement agencies, fire departments
• Glossary of terms
Part 1: Sunday
• N.J. doctor supplied steroids to hundreds of law enforcement officers, firefighters
• Five deaths in 19 months linked to steroids, Lowen's pharmacy
• Legal cases linked to N.J. police who received steroids through Dr. Colao
• Ex-Jets quarterback Ray Lucas was prescribed steroids, HGH by Dr. Colao
Part 2: Monday
• N.J. taxpayers get bill for millions in steroid, growth hormone prescriptions for cops, firefighters
• Ex-Harrison firefighter on disability works full-time for N.C. fire department
Part 3: Today
• Booming anti-aging business relies on risky mix of steroids, growth hormone
The Star-Ledger examined Colao’s prescription records from a single Brooklyn pharmacy, finding at least 248 New Jersey law enforcement officers and firefighters filled prescriptions for muscle-building drugs in just over a one-year period. In most cases, if not all, they used their government benefits to pay for the substances, according to the physician’s employees and some of the officers and firefighters.
The newspaper’s evidence suggests the total cost to taxpayers runs to millions of dollars.
The officers and firefighters represent more than 50 agencies, including municipal departments, county sheriff’s offices, the state Department of Corrections, the State Police and NJ Transit’s police department.
Because Colao prescribed the drugs through pharmacies in New Jersey as well, the number of users in uniform is believed to be substantially higher.
The newspaper found that after Colao’s death in August 2007, many of his patients sought out other doctors who specialize in prescribing steroids and growth hormone.
McKeon said he is researching legislation to address the issue of steroid use among officers and firefighters.
Dow, in the first two installments of the series, said uniformed public servants who obtain the drugs when they aren’t medically necessary appear to be violating the law. She also said the use of taxpayer dollars to buy them could constitute fraud.
Dow’s spokesman, Paul Loriquet, said the office had received McKeon’s letter.
"It’s obviously something we’ll be looking at very closely," Loriquet said.
The Star-Ledger series continues Tuesday with an examination of the booming anti-aging industry and its reliance on steroids and growth hormone. The story also will highlight gaps in oversight, including the lack of a prescription drug monitoring program.