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Local News

Friday, July 30, 2010

CORRECTED: Task force seeks to reduce abuse of pills, heroin
Hancock Federal Credit Union
By JORDAN CRAVENS

staff writer

Leaders have launched a task force to cut prescription drug and heroin abuse. And they want the community to join the effort.

The new Hancock County Prescription and Opiate Abuse Task Force is led by John Stanovich, assistant dean of the University of Findlay's College of Pharmacy.

"We are expecting a great deal of participation from community leaders and other community members to help formulate our plan," he said. "The idea of a task force helps us to have a better coordinated effort across a lot of different areas to address the issue of medication abuse."

Forged out of the Hancock County Community Partnership, the task force has been divided into four areas: community, health care professionals, education, and medication collection.

Community leaders will head the focus groups, Stanovich said, but they need people to join in.

The county task force formed about a month after Gov. Ted Strickland launched the Ohio Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force in April.

Strickland's group is "charged with researching the issue and identifying public health, law enforcement, legislative and additional strategies to reduce the danger of prescription drug abuse in Ohio."

Strickland said Ohio's unintentional drug poisoning death rate has increased more than 300 percent from 1999 to 2007. It's the leading cause of injury death in Ohio.

County Prosecutor Mark Miller and Kimberly Bash, program officer for the Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation, are co-chairing the community focus area.

They will spearhead efforts to educate the public about opiate addiction and abuse, which will include tracking and reporting county and city statistics about drug use, deaths, and how many babies are born with addiction.

Creating awareness of treatment options, and communicating ways to decrease the drug problem are also among their tasks.

Barb Wilhelm, Findlay's deputy health commissioner, and Dr. William Kose of Blanchard Valley Hospital are tasked with trying to increase the number of doctors and pharmacists who use Ohio's Automated Rx Reporting System. They will also be educating health care professionals about opiate abuse.

The reporting system tracks information about prescription drugs, including patient information, who prescribed the medication, what drug was dispensed, the quantity prescribed and number of refills.

This data is used by police to investigate prescription drug abuse cases, Stanovich said.

"We have a lot of individuals out there who are doctor shopping," he said. "It's difficult (to track) without one centralized database."

"Doctor shopping" is when a person goes to different doctors and pharmacies, sometimes simultaneously, to get prescription drugs.

Members of the education focus area, led by Kathy Crates of Findlay Schools and Tim Kruse of the Hancock County Educational Service Center, will develop materials for schools on opiate abuse and addiction.

They will also come up with strategies for preventing opiate abuse among students and will educate staff on signs and symptoms of abuse, as well as addiction and treatment options.

Randy Greeno, superintendent of Findlay's Water Pollution Control Center, and Joe Rader, president of Rader Environmental Services, will lead efforts to advance the medication collection program.

Encouraging safe storage of unused medications between collection times, and working to increase the amount of medication collected are among this focus area's tasks.

There have been three medication collections in Hancock County the past two years. More than 189,000 medicine tablets and capsules were collected.

The task force will hold a public meeting from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 10 at University of Findlay Davis Room 102. An overview of the opiate problem will be given, followed by a description of the task force.

For more information call 419-424-1985, or e-mail .

(Editor's note: This version corrects the room number for the Aug. 10 meeting.)



Online:

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Cravens: 419-427-8422,

Send an e-mail to Jordan Cravens


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6 Comments

Latest comments listed first.
Jeanne wrote:
Take a look at that poll!
“ It is clear that, while not scientifically done, the Courier's poll on what people think should be done about the drug problem is for tougher actions with the arrested offenders. Would like to see a response from the local judicial on results. If it is "hand tied with sentencing" - task force can put forth efforts to change law, etc. If it is "not enough room in the judicial inn" develop an alternative; if it is "sentencing doesn't work" find out a better way or seek alternatives. ”
Sunday, August 01, 2010 1:28:59 PM
Jeanne wrote:
Terri -
“ Interesting response...my only other thought is to share the facts with the county prosecuter's office and see where it leads. There may be ongoing investigations that are important to continue, but you will have done your part in informing the law of your observations that you believe a crime has been committed. You are especially committed because of your personal experiences and I give you my sympathy for the loss of your son. ”
Sunday, August 01, 2010 6:09:27 AM
terri wrote:
heroin series
“ amen to jeanne!! well said. i called det. doolittle just this week to ask why they let a known heroin dealer bust two others dealing the same drug & let this man remain free to continue to sell this drug??? was told he did not have to justify their actions to me!!! i lost my son to this drug at 20 yrs. old he left behind a daughter 3 sisters abrother & parents that begged for help. what the hell you mean you don't have to answer to me??? thay are all corrupt!!!! ”
Saturday, July 31, 2010 4:27:57 PM
donna wrote:
start at the top
“ Go after the doctors that give out pain killers like its candy. People go to the er everyday to these drugs and they get them. Then the end up on the street and if you get caught what happens to the doctor that gave them to you NOTHING. START AT THE TOP!!! ”
Friday, July 30, 2010 12:50:07 PM
don wrote:
Great Thoughts
“ Jeanne,

Form block watches including the towns and villages in Hancock County. Learn the signs of drug addiction and drug dealing in the neighborhoods. Addicts and dealers believe they can get off with little and no legal consequences. Stop using addicts and dealers as informants believing they can get lighter sentences. ”
Friday, July 30, 2010 10:21:13 AM
Jeanne wrote:
Keep it personal and local
“ The more it identifies to the individual, the better...when information is reported, break it down into smaller units. For example, townships or north/south township rather than just "rural Hancock County" Give it by town. In Findlay, give it by sections. Have task force people local...almost like Block Watch. A local team of contacts, including identified contacts within schools would help. Health professionals more approachable than law enforcement. ”
Friday, July 30, 2010 10:00:33 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.