“It would specifically target the diversion of prescription drugs from the legal market to the illicit market,” said Councilman Lowell J. “L.J.” Maxey, a former DEA agent who brought the matter to council’s attention.

The special unit would investigate cases such as physicians overprescribing pills or individuals seeing various doctors to obtain prescriptions for medications beyond their recommended doses, Maxey said.

With such a unit focusing on prescription drugs, the Greater Harrison County Drug and Violent Crimes Task Force would have more time to investigate other illicit substances, such as heroin, cocaine and methamphetamine, Maxey added.

Councilwoman Diana Cole Marra asked if this area ever had such a unit.

It hasn’t because the DEA just started the program in 2009, Maxey replied.

But the funding exists, and a resolution from a governing body carries weight with the DEA, said Maxey, who worked 23 years with the agency.

Mayor Bob Greer said he plans to contact other mayors in Harrison County about adopting similar resolutions.

Greer said he also will broach the topic with mayors from this part of the state during next week’s West Virginia Municipal League conference.

“We’ve got to attack this from every corner to turn the tide,” the mayor said.

Greer and other council members thanked Maxey for bringing the idea to their attention.

It’s a head-scratcher why a squad hasn’t been assigned to this part of the state, given that Harrison County was designated a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area by the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Greer said.