Posted by Tom on April 02, 2002 at 15:40:30:
In Reply to: Re: Are we better/worse than average ??? posted by FC GAL on April 02, 2002 at 09:48:27:
> Armstrong County is a major problem area for heroine (along with the other
> drugs that are making the rounds.) And it can (and sadly, probably will)
> get much worse. The small bit of information we are seeing and hearing is
> just a tip of the iceberg. I am old enough to remember when the "adults"
> didn't feel we had a drug problem in the 60's, 70's, 80's,...
> The "experienced" (I prefer this term over "old")among us know that by the
> time the issue reaches the news and the authorities it is more than a
> beginning problem.
> One of our "neighbors" has been having a deadly battle with this new round
> of the heroine epidemic for years. The Butler Eagle has recently printed
> an article by Jim Smith (March 24, 2002)that helps to illuminate the drug
> issue there.
> I know, some of you will now be saying, "That's just Butler. It's not us.
> Our kids just drink and smoke a bit of pot...nothing major." It's time to
> WAKE UP if you believe this. Kittanning is half an hour from this town.
> Many from this area go to Butler to get a taste of the "urban" life.
> Parents think it's okay, it's not like they are going into "big-bad
> Pittsburgh" by themselves. How many of our teens hang out at the Malls
> there? And like Butler, we are not far from Allegheny county, where it
> seems that a lot of the heroine is coming from. (and, no, the answer is
> not to keep our kids out of these "bad" areas...the problem is making a
> new home in Armstrong County as we discuss this)
> Sad, but the price of heroine is extremely low and it is highly
> addictive. Many feel it is safe if they don't inject it. If you believe
> that...I have some swampland for sale...:)
> A few quotes and some information (because I feel it is important
> information and few will go to the article to read it for themselves) from
> the article that are of interest...
> WWW.butlereagle.com
> "Butler Memorial Hospital reports it treats more than one drug overdose
> per day, or 482 last year. Heroine accounts for many, if not most, of
> those cases..."
> "Heroin has become an epidemic here," said county Detective Pat Cannon,
> who spearheads the county district attorney's drug task force...."It's
> everywhere in the county, not just the city...All the school districts are
> having problems."
> "EMTs at ambulance providers over the past two years have had to use
> Narcan, medication primarily called on to reverse heroin overdoses, 181
> times, according to authorities." (Are our EMT's ready?)
> 3 people have died in Butler county of heroine overdoses this
> year. "including a 16 year old boy and a 47 year old state constable"
> (So much for classifying this problem by a certain age group or by
> economic or educational classifications.) "Heroine deaths are also
> suspected in the deaths this year of two other Butler County
> residents...those cases remain under investigation." (What's
> this...umhh...the beginning of the 4th month of the year...A heroine death
> or two a month....sounds like a problem...)
> Tim McCune, Butler County District Attorney, is hoping to start an
> anonymous hotline in his office for tips about users and for counseling.
> Are we working on such a thing for our area?
> I agree, it would probably help if we could see some stat's from our
> county. I'm afraid they may lull some into a false sense of security if
> they are not very high. In my opinion... all it takes is one death from
> this problem...especially if it is someone you love.
> Show up for the meeting, pull your head out of the sand, voice your
> concerns, talk to those you love...before you have to plan a funeral.
> Do everything you can to stop this problem.
FC gal-a lot of your comments on the drug problem in your area are right on. But I disagree, we cannot stop the problem, to some extent, it is here to stay. I say that with great dismay. As long as there is a demand, someone will meet it with a supply of, u can fill in the blanks. I've lost 2 cousins to drugs-one OD when he was 25 yrs old, another to AIDS @ age 43 from shooting heroin IV . The three of us all grew up in the very same household during the 70s-80s. They got into it when we were teens, smoking a little pot, drinking wine hanging out with the fellas. I never touched the stuff, especially after what I saw what it did to them.
We used to make fun of the winos & drunks sleeping in the park-the laughter stopped when they became addicts nodding on the street corners. Sad, very sad. But some people never learn, and when they do, it's too late.