A rash of pharmacy robberies in Wisconsin is linked to a growing addiction to the prescription drug OxyContin.

The city of Waukesha alone has had four pharmacy robberies in recent months. Plymouth, Hartland and Germantown are also investigating similar robberies.

Waukesha County's Addiction Resource Council says it has a growing number of clients using oxycodone, or OxyContin. After alcohol, OxyContin is the fastest growing drug of choice.

Council executive director Claudia Roska says the drug is a good pain medication, but one easily abused. She says oxycodone has been over-prescribed and is more addictive than previously thought.

As a side note, drug maker Purdue Pharma recently agreed to pay $19.5 million to Wisconsin and 25 other states and the District of Columbia to settle complaints that the drug maker encouraged physicians to over-prescribe OxyContin.

AP