RUMFORD – Two Rumford residents were arrested Monday afternoon on charges related to trafficking in illegal prescription drugs.

Christopher Touchette, 22, had been out on bail for a charge of trafficking in schedule W drugs. Evidence obtained by officer Matt Noyes and Sgt. James Bernard during a traffic stop, as a result of a speeding violation, revealed a small amount of marijuana and possession of $1,266 in cash suspected to have been obtained or intended for illegal activity, according to a press release issued by the Rumford Police Department Tuesday morning.

Touchette was charged with violating conditions of release and transported to Oxford County jail.

A passenger, Chad White, 28, was alleged to be in illegal possession of the prescription drugs methadone and oxycodone having a street value of at least $200, said Lt. Mark A. Cayer.

Methadone is a synthetic opiate drug used to treat opiate and heroin addicts as well as pain. Oxycodone is morphine-based medication used to treat moderate pain. Both drugs are highly addictive.

White was also in possession of $2,415 cash, also suspected to be involved in illegal activity. White is a registered sex offender. He was bailed from the Rumford Police Department on $1,000 cash and is scheduled to appear in 11th District Court, Northern Oxford Division, on Dec. 5, said Cayer.

Cayer said cases involving illegal use of prescription drugs is almost a regular thing. He said at any given time, the department has at least one open case of possession of illegal prescriptions. Besides the two seized on Monday, he said other drugs, such as vicodin and hydrocodone are being illegally sold.

“More and more people are using them,” he said of the prescription painkillers.

During the past several years, Cayer said at least a half-dozen deaths in the Rumford area have been attributed to prescription drug overdoses.