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Local News

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

Pain pill, heroin abuse not unusual among teenagers
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Heroin and pain pill abuse among northwestern Ohio high school students is not uncommon, according to Nancy Stephani, coordinator of emergency services at Century Health, a treatment center in Findlay.

"It's not every kid in every class, but they are using a lot," Stephani said of students in Hancock, Putnam, Wyandot, Hardin and Seneca counties.

She's seen opiate addicts as young as 15, and so far this month, she's already had two teenagers come in for addiction treatment. Two a month is about average, she said.

Pain pills are easily accessible, according to Findlay Police Sgt. Mike Martien, who works in the city schools as a crime prevention officer. Some students are getting into medicine cabinets and are using the drugs or selling them, he said.

Principals at Cory-Rawson, Carey and North Baltimore high schools said there haven't been any drug seizures during the past couple years during the school day, but students are abusing prescription drugs outside of school.

Shawn Carpenter, chief probation officer for Hancock County Juvenile Court, said young people are abusing Percocet, Vicodin, and Tylenol with codeine, among other drugs.

"Kids will buy them from other kids and have no idea what they are buying," he said.

Hancock County Sheriff's Deputy Mike McGuire, who is a school resource officer, said he has heard rumors about students using heroin outside of school. But, he said, no students have been found with the drug at school.

At Findlay High School, "the majority of what we are finding on our kids is marijuana," but prescription pills have also been confiscated from students, said Principal Victoria Swartz.

Nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol can be "gateway drugs" for opiate abuse, Stephani said.

Northwest Ohio schools use guidance counselors, substance abuse counselors, talks from police, and curriculum to educate students about drug and alcohol use.

Bob Falkenstein, principal of the North Baltimore Main Building, said "5th Quarter" events like dodgeball tournaments or costume parties are planned after football and basketball games, "so that kids aren't leaving the game and going out and partying."

A main focus at Findlay High School has been to link families up with services to help treat drug addiction or other issues, Swartz said.

Police also educate teachers at Findlay High School about what drugs are out there, what they look like, and how to identify drug paraphernalia, Swartz said.

Students caught with drugs face punishment from their school and criminal prosecution, according to police and administrators.

Craig Steenblock, a prevention specialist for the Hancock County Family Resource Center, coordinates the Challenge Program, used by county schools and juvenile court for students who have consumed alcohol underage or abused drugs. It is an eight-hour class spread over four meeting times.

"I am seeing quite a few more pill-poppers," Steenblock said of youth in the program.

In addition, Pat Sudlow, a prevention educator at the Family Resource Center, also leads the Hancock County Addiction Prevention Program for Youth program.

Often referred to as "HAPPY," the program started in the mid-1980s, she said.

Prescription drug and heroin abuse are among the topics discussed in the program, which teaches students leadership skills and healthy alternatives to take back to their schools and share with classmates relating to the dangers of alcohol and drug use, Sudlow said.

Online:

www.centuryhealth.net

www.frcohio.com/external/hancock.htm



Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens

Wednesday: Where to go for help with pain pill or heroin addiction. What happens when people taken to jail are going through withdrawal. And, a look inside the Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center in Lima.


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11 Comments (2 pages)

Latest comments listed first.
20 and aware wrote:
Pill Abuse
“ Blame our parents, blame society, blame yourselves. This generation has been raised on pharmaceuticals. How could this not be expected when there are 6 year old children being prescribed Schedule I drugs to treat behavioral problems? Might I also point out that the DEA also schedules Mescaline in this same category. Pop a pill for every ache and mood swing. Society is disgusting. ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 9:50:25 PM
who cares wrote:
a bit of info for the challenged....
“ I would like any of you who think that pot is worse than alcohol to pull me stats on the number of people who have died from consumption of pot compared to those who have died from alcohol overdose. You may be shocked. Also research why pot was originally outlawed and then remove your psychotic right wing thoughts

You are the reason this country is dying off!! It sickens me that I am a Republican ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 9:03:47 PM
Barry wrote:
Dependancy
“ Did I hear this right? "Nicotine, marijuana, and alcohol can be "gateway drugs"! I don't believe it, pot is finally getting grouped with cigarettes and alcohol. That means it can be made legal, controlled, taxed and sold across the counter.
Dependancy is different from person to person. All you can teach young people is to make the right choices and use moderation as a life step. You can't stop drinking & smoking but you can educate and that is the best you can do. Those who have addictive personalities can be identified easy enough because they over indulge in everything they intake. By far the majority who can show restraint and exercise moderation, life can be grand. ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 1:07:02 PM
Tim from Bowling Green wrote:
BJW
“ BJW: Nice to hear from you, my friend. I am only seeking comments from members of the Findlay community. My inquiry is in no way meant to be official or scientific. My question is meant to solicit opinions and begin a dialogue about what people think. You really shouldn't read more into it than that. I have been told by many members of the Findlay community that what I am asking is true; that young people who have wealthy or well connected parents get away with quite a bit. If this is the case, as I do not know if it is true or not, then that's a problem because all students should be punished the same. This is only my opinion. See, we are having a dialogue!!!

 ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:12:27 AM
city lifer wrote:
defenders
“ Dont you just love these people who defend pot. ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 11:02:48 AM
BJW wrote:
Here we go again...
“ Tim,

Asking a question such as you did, on a forum where people answer anonymously, is not a reliable source.

Use your full name, make appropriate inquiries of appropriate sources and do the investigative work elsewhere.

Anyone who believes they have been scorned is going to say some students are treated differently.

The problem is everyone's perception is different, yet everyone's perception is their own reality.

Why you want to know the answer to such a question is beyond me but it would seem if the information you hope to obtain will be used for any reliable purpose, you would want to obtain it in a more reliable way from a more reliable source. ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:46:59 AM
amazed wrote:
re:betty b
“ Really?! I find that hard to believe. Do you know all the facts, or are you getting it 3rd or 4th hand? I would like to hear more of that story and how it played out. I cant imagine the security guards and principals seeing evidence and ignoring it. Aren't the high schools security guards really off-duty cops? How can this be? ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:26:11 AM
Tim from Bowling Green wrote:
I HAVE A QUESTION FOR ANYONE WHO LIVES IN THE CITY OF FINDLAY, OHIO
“ Hello Friends:

I hope you all are doing well. I have a question. It was brought to my attention several months ago that young people who have parents who are wealthy, live in Fox Run subdivision, have good paying jobs, who have very visible jobs in the community, are good at sports, and are generally well connected to elected officials or any school board member tend to get away with pretty much anything. If you read the post from "Betty. B" at the beginning of this forum, she says that is true.

However, I recently had a Findlay City School teacher and a superintendent, not from Findlay but from another Ohio district, say that it's not true and EVERYONE and ALL YOUNG PEOPLE are treated the same regardless of the status of their parents. I was chastised by both educators and told I was wrong for thinking that some students are punished and that other students get a free pass. Actually, the teacher from FCS was very upset I would even ask such a question.

So, is it true what Bett B. and others are saying? Do students who have wealthy parents or who are good at sports treated the same as their poorer peers? Could someone please help me get an answer to this question?

Tim from Bowling Green


”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:17:38 AM
adam wrote:
gateway
“ yall make me laugh at the fact you consider pot to be a gateway drug. lets talk about alcohol how its ruining familys and the lives of others.
 ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 10:13:49 AM
V wrote:
Gateway Drugs
“ I understand why there is the common belief that marijuana is a "gateway drug". Individuals who use marijuana oftentimes do use other drugs, however it is not marijuana itself that triggers the desire to do other drugs. The drug dealers whom users buy from could be considered their "gateway", but not the drug itself. Marijuana does not produce an urge within someone to try other illicit drugs, but being surrounded by people who are using other drugs could provide an aspiration to buy other drugs from the dealer besides marijuana. Some individuals are willing to experiment or use and substance, no matter what the consequences may be. The "gateway drugs are merely the drugs that are usually available at an earlier age than the harder drugs. There have been numerous studies to support this issue, including studies done by The University of Pittsburgh, RAND, and the Centre for Economic Policy Research in London. ”
Tuesday, July 27, 2010 8:42:58 AM
   NEWS VIDEO

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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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.

Holiday changes ad deadlines
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.