Crime & Safety
Suburban Scourge: Addiction and the Gateway Pill
The last in a series about the drug once contained in low-income city neighborhoods that has found its way into towns across the region, and how communities are fighting its grip.
The rise in heroin activity in recent years has prompted authorities to not only enhance law enforcement efforts, but also to focus on an age-old demon lurking in our society -- addiction.
And at a time of easy access to an array of designer drugs and prescription narcotics, the epidemic of opiate addiction is spreading through suburbia at alarming rates.
A recent Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration study showed thatheroin use in America doubled between 2003 and 2011, with 620,000 Americans reporting using heroin. Most of that increase has been found in suburban communities.
In Massachusetts, heroin use has jumped dramatically. A 2011 report by the Massachusetts Department of Health & Human Services showed that between 1999 and 2009, the number of people over the age of 12 in treatment for heroin addiction in the state went from 28,804 to 38,594.
Heroin is stronger than it was 40 years ago, and the methods of use have changed. Once seen as a drug injected with syringes in alleys, heroin is more often snorted.
"Sadly, users 'graduate' to the needle," Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. "The drug cartels are very savvy about marketing their product."
Exact heroin use numbers for Essex County are difficult to determine, but overdoses have spiked.
"Based on our own investigations of unattended deaths, we do know that fatal overdoses have increased," Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett said. "In 2010, there were 23 fatal overdoses. In 2012, there were 56 and we are up to 60 so far this year."
Bitter Pill
A major factor contributing to opiate addiction has been the rise in prescription painkiller abuse.
OxyContin -- a potent opiate pain medication that time-releases Oxycodone (Percocet) into the bloodstream -- has seen a rise in abuse in the past 20 years. Crushed up and swallowed or snorted, the drug enters the blood all at once rather than time released. The effect is similar to heroin.
And prescription painkiller abuse has proven to be deadly. According to the CDC, more than 40 people die every day in the United States from painkiller overdose, more than heroin and cocaine. And young people are seeing a dramatic increase in prescription painkiller abuse.
"The problem itself, the understanding of it, comes from the opiate addiction itself," Andover Detective Greg Scott said. "OxyContin kind of came on to the scene, and it's a kind of the natural progression of young people. A kid doesn't know what they're doing and they mess around with the pills."
Studies have revealed an alarming progression from painkiller addiction to heroin addiction.
"When we make an arrest, we try to talk to them, ask how did they get into it," Scott said. "And about 80 to 90 percent of the time, their heroin started with pills."
First, there's the money. The more an addiction progresses, the more drugs needed to be high. The more drugs needed, the more money needed. With OxyContin being expensive, the cheaper alternative becomes heroin.
“This is not solely a law enforcement issue,” Blodgett said. “It is a public health, mental health and family issue. The whole community has a role to play is solving this problem."
Now, communities are taking notice.
Taking Action
For several years, Scott served as school resource officer, dealing directly with students and drug matters in the schools.
"We would go into the middle schools and speak to the health classes, all the classes on drug abuse and alcohol/tobacco use, we would speak to kids about what they may encounter out there," Scott said.
"If I didn't do that job, I wouldn't know about Percocet leading to heroin use," Scott continued. "They get stuck in these addictions because they don't know about it."
Recently, State Rep. Diana DiZoglio hosted a roundtable discussion about the impact of drug addiction in the Merrimack Valley.
“I have had many discussions with residents who have been fighting for their loved ones suffering from drug addiction," DiZoglio said in announcing that initiative. "It is absolutely heartbreaking. These troubled families each have a story to tell and they share the hope that, by coming together in a concerted effort, we will be able to make a positive difference in this area. I look forward to hearing more from members of the community, many of who have faced drug addiction themselves, as we raise awareness and consider all possible ways to combat this growing problem."
Blodgett's office uses what he calls a "two-pronged approach," dealing with prosecution as well as prevention and intervention.
"In addition, we have developed award-winning prevention programs to educate young people specifically about heroin and OxyContin in 2004,” Blodgett said. "This program (Choose to Refuse) is offered to all school districts and other youth organizations free of charge."
And in almost every court in the county, there is a Drug Diversion Program, which allows non-violent drug offenders extensive substance abuse treatment as an alternative to traditional criminal court.
On Nov. 20, Andover Police will host a Drug Awareness Night in collaboration with Andover Youth Services at Old Town Hall. Scott will be one of the speakers, and the two-hour program will address local trends in drug use.
"We have an unbelievable Fire Department, Police Department, an incredible chief leading the way," Scott said. "We do not stick our head in the sand and say, 'we don't have this problem and we're not going to have these problems.'"
Read the rest our three-part series "Suburban Scourge":
Part 1: Essex County Battles Heroin's Tide
Part 2: Fighting Heroin Locally
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