Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office Drug Unit investigators have charged James Edward Vanhorn, 36, of Mackeys Road, Plymouth, with possession with intent to sell a schedule III controlled substance: suboxone.
Suboxone has preferred status over methadone as the substance for which opiate addiction is treated.
“It’s just more proof of the growing trend—of the epidemic that’s going on,” said a spokesman for the drug unit. “We’re doing cases every day.”
Since the sheriff’s office created a full time drug diversion officer position, the number of cases the drug unit is processing has multiplied.
“We’ve been doing them all along, but now we have a dedicated officer,” said the spokesman. “That’s one of the biggest helps.”
Vanhorn was arrested on Jan.16, and confined in the Beaufort County Detention Center under a $3,000 secured bond.