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Local News

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Heroin use up, officials warning
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Heroin addicts are in our midst in Hancock County, and their numbers are increasing, authorities said Friday.

Gone is the image of a scraggly-looking man standing on the street corner, badly in need of a shave and shower, shooting heroin into his veins. Instead, addicts today may be your neighbors, co-workers and family members who have become entrapped in the disease of addiction, officials said at a forum held at the Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.

Attending the forum were roughly 15 people, including law enforcement, a judge, substance abuse therapists, doctors, and others who come into contact with drug addicts on a daily basis.

"We are seeing a drastic increase in the abuse of heroin," said Lt. Sean Young of the Findlay Police Department.

In 2008, the Hancock County Drug Task Force METRICH Enforcement Unit arrested 11 people for trafficking in heroin, a number which increased to 16 in 2009, Young said.

The unit seized 24 grams of heroin in 2008. Last year the amount seized nearly quadrupled to 80 grams.

The heroin is coming from Toledo and Detroit, said Sgt. Jim Mathias of the task force.

Heroin addiction often begins with legal prescriptions for pain medications. But as the prescriptions run out and people become addicted to painkillers, they resort to other means to get their opiate fix, according to Precia Stuby, executive director of the Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board.

They turn to the street for an affordable opiate substitute -- heroin, a highly-addictive, sometimes fatal drug.

A balloon filled with heroin is selling for between $6 and $18. In contrast, the pain reliever Oxycontin can cost up to $50 a tablet, according to Angy Shaferly, a registered nurse at Anhedonia, an addiction treatment center in Findlay.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, "you hardly ever saw people with opiate addiction, but that has changed dramatically," said Lynn Snyder, a substance abuse therapist at Century Health.

Between June 2008 and July 2009, Century Health treated 30 people for opiate addiction, but since then, 51 have been or are being treated, she said.

And this may only be scraping the surface, according to Dr. Don Iliff with Century Health. He said there are likely more addicts who have not sought treatment. The numbers provided by Snyder only include those who have been ordered by judges to enroll in treatment programs.

The officials also said they see opiate addiction beginning with young people. It can start in high school when youths raid their parents' medicine cabinet for pain medications, and continue on down the path, eventually arriving at heroin.

But opiate addiction is not unique to the young.

"I've seen 50- and 60-year-old ladies who are buying pills on the street because their doctors cut them off because they have been in the system so long," Shaferly said.

But help is out there, according to all of those in attendance Friday.

"There are services available," Stuby said. "But there are a lot of people that don't know how to access those services."

For those unsure of what services exist, she suggests starting with the county's 2-1-1 telephone service, which is an information and referral system designed to direct people to the appropriate service.

Those at the forum also gave some tips for recognizing if a loved one, friend or fellow employee has become addicted to heroin. Sometimes, it can be difficult to pick up on, they said.

Some signs to look for include: shakiness, slurred speech, extreme sweating, or visible track lines on arms.

More easily noticed will be the changes in the person's daily functions. Perhaps they will be unable to pay utility bills, stealing from family members, missing work frequently, making frequent visits to various doctors, or having a change in friends.

The community can also try to curb opiate abuse beginning at the prescription drug level.

"This is a preventable disease and one of the things every person in this community can do to help prevent the disease is to round up medications, clean out purses and shelves and throw out all of your old medicines," Stuby said.

This will prevent people from taking the drugs to use them or divert them to others, she said.

Cravens: 419-427-8422, Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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5 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Shari wrote:
DIAL 211 for many types of help
“ Dial 211 is more than just for heroin users who need help.

211 is a Free tax service(must earn under 57,000.00)

211 is Help with applications for
HEAP
SNAP
FOOD STAMPS
EMERGENCY CASH
MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

211 is one call for help; not just the drug addicted but for many who are struggling and feel overwhelmed with the process of getting help.

211 is FREE TAXES filing is you earn under 57,000.00 per year.

211 can put you in touch with HELP
All types of help, not just for the drug addicted but for those who have a need.
”
Monday, February 01, 2010 12:20:49 PM
Tony Grotrian wrote:
I Weep/ I Anger/ I Struggle
“ As I read this article I weep.Through wet eyes, I see my grandson and the hell he faced as a heroin addict and couldn't find the help he needed. I anger as I wonder; Why have these helpful agencies remained hidden? Would Findlay be seen in a bad light if the public knew of them and where they are? I weep as I study the numbers and wonder what the missing number is for those whose lives were lost in 2009. I anger at the 46% increase of heroin cases in 1 year. I anger at the 230% increase of seized heroin in 1 year. At this rate we will have 24 trafficking cases and seize 264 grams of heroin in 2010. I weep as I watch the supply line to my grandson and others like him, appear before our judges. I anger at some of the sentences handed down. I struggle with the idea that there is no family or backup support as they stand before the judge and I struggle as they show no remorse for what they are causing for our society to deal with. I weep as I wonder if my community will step forward in this struggle, in this crusade against illegal drugs. Don't forget there are other illegal drugs taking over lives, not only heroin as discussed in this article. Grandpa Tony ”
Sunday, January 31, 2010 7:44:06 AM
Kris wrote:
heroin
“ Yes, there is a problem. But we owe those people a big thank you (SARCASM) thank you for making it next to impossible for my husband that has a peice of neck bone touching his spianl cord to get some pain relief. Maybe if we handle this problem or the doctors recognize things sooner, or change in the way they prescribe meds, the people who are in sever pain can get a little relief. ”
Saturday, January 30, 2010 10:58:10 PM
llv wrote:
Heroin use up
“ Really>? How many premature deaths of young people and letters to the Editor, does it take for someone to notice? I have seen what this dangerous addiction can do to people. Watching someone get the 'just say no' treatment, and trying desperately to quit, only to use again is painful. Awareness is the BEGINNING. Thankfully this community is becoming aware... let's help those who really want/need it. ”
Saturday, January 30, 2010 9:00:48 AM
Amy wrote:
Increased Drug abuse in Hancock County
“ Thank you for finally doing a story on this increased problem in our city/county. Those of us who see in on a daily basis notice the increase of the drug & alcohol abuse. The people of Hancock County need to be more educated & realize that this problem is ALL of our problem. When we educate ourselves & realize that it is a problem in our own neighborhood, the more we can help those who have an addiction & help our community together. There is help available for those who have a problem; they just need to know where to go for the help. ”
Saturday, January 30, 2010 8:33:36 AM
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Benton Ridge Shooting

This video, released by the Hancock County Prosecutor's Office, shows the shooting of a Lima man who led authorities on a three-county chase ending Aug.24 in Benton Ridge. Be cautioned, the video contains graphic content.
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Yfkm wrote in article "Heroin outbreak":
Denial
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News Briefs Firefighters discover 20 marijuana plants in house
After fighting a house fire early Monday at 815 Howard St., firefighters found 20 marijuana plants in the residence.

"They ran across it and called us," said police Sgt. Justin Hendren with the Hancock County METRICH Drug Enforcement Unit.

Police seized all 20 plants, and Hendren said charges are pending.

High-powered growing lights, fans, and a box filled with dried marijuana were also found in the house, according to a police report.

Investigators said an electrical short started the fire before 3 a.m. Monday.

The blaze caused an estimated $12,000 in damage to the residence, owned by Amanda Crawford. No one was injured, according to the Findlay Fire Department.

Carey announces holiday closing
CAREY -- Carey offices, including administrative, income tax and utilities, electric, wastewater treatment plant, and public works, will be closed Monday in observance of Labor Day.

The curbside recycling program will be held Tuesday through Thursday, Sept. 7-9.

Findlay trooper named sergeant
Trooper Jacob L. Fletcher, assigned to the Findlay post of the State Highway Patrol, was promoted to sergeant Wednesday by Patrol Superintendent Col. David Dicken.

With the promotion, Fletcher will stay at the Findlay post and serve as an assistant post commander, according to the patrol.

Fletcher began his patrol career in 2002 after graduating from the 139th Academy class and has been assigned to the Findlay post since.

Owens announces holiday schedule
The Toledo and Findlay campuses of Owens Community College will be closed Saturday through Monday for the Labor Day holiday.

There will be no classes and the college offices will be closed.

Classes will resume and offices will open again on Tuesday.

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The Courier won't be published on Monday, in observance of the Labor Day holiday.

Because of the holiday, some advertising deadlines have been moved up this week:

Black and white display advertising for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by noon Friday. Display advertising for Wednesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Color display advertising for the Thursday, Sept. 9 newspaper must be placed by Friday.

Classified advertising and City and Country advertising for Saturday's newspaper must be placed by 2 p.m. Friday. Classified ads for Tuesday's newspaper must be placed by 2:30 p.m. Friday.

Courier business and advertising offices will close at 3 p.m. Friday for the holiday.