Dr. Sarah Dawn Jones drug charges heard at Bridgewater arraignment

Protesters concerned about the illegal saleof prescription medications demonstrated outside Bridgewater's justice centre Wednesday during the first hearing for a Nova Scotia doctor charged with drug trafficking.

Dr. Sarah Dawn Jones, who used to work at the Crossroads Family Practice in Tantallon,is accused by police oftrafficking 50,000oxycodoneand Oxyneopills.

The 35-year-oldis also charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking, theft, breach of trust, drawing a document without authority and fraud.

Jones's lawyer, Stan MacDonald,appeared on her behalf in court on Wednesday. A plea hearing has been set for June 8.

• Tantallon doctor's alleged trafficking lasted up to 20 months, records show
• Tantallon doctor's alleged trafficking scheme called 'dirty trick' by former patient

Protest continued outside court

During the arraignment, a group of people demonstrated outside.Several of the protestors are family members of Joshua Graves, who died in 2011 from an overdoes of the painkiller Dilaudid. Grave's mother, Karen Belliveau,said he didn't have a prescription.

"I'd just like people to know how dangerous these drugs are," she said.

RobMulloy, director of advocacy group Get Prescription Drugs Off The Streets, said painkillers are a problem across the country.

"Wewant to bring awareness that the over-prescribing of prescription drugs through the health-care system is the major issue for these pills reaching the street," he said.