CHENANGO COUNTY – Criminal activity relating to the narcotic heroin has been increasing exponentially over the past few years in Chenango County, a trend local officials are hoping to curtail even as opiate-related arrests continue to spike.
“Five or six years ago we didn’t have this conversation, it didn’t exist, but now it’s a major problem,” said Chenango County Treatment Court Coordinator James Everard.
In 2010, the Norwich Police Department made 91 drug related arrests; in 2011, 98. Last yea,r 148 people were arrested by the Norwich PD for drug related crimes. And while the years of 2010 and 2011 saw few charges concerning hypodermic instruments – just two each year – in 2012, more than 20 people were charged with the class A misdemeanor. Norwich PD charges of criminal possession and/or sale of controlled substance went from 13 in 2010 to 35 in 2011, and 43 in 2012. Last year, 141 drug related felony level indictments were handed down by grand juries.
“We are aggressively pursuing all crimes involving heroin,” said Chenango County First Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dunshee. “Whether it’s a defendant stealing money to feed their addiction or individuals selling in our community, we want to get the word out that the sale of heroin or any narcotic in Chenango County is not going to be tolerated.”
Said Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr., “The approach to the war on drugs has to be a multifaceted one. The fact that every time a dealer gets locked up another seems to take their place is not an excuse to not keep fighting. We need to keep on locking up dealers with tougher, longer sentences so that they will know there are consequences for dealing in Chenango County.”
Judge Revoir also spoke on the importance of educating the public on the devastating effects opiate abuse can have as well as the importance of treatment. He estimated that 80 percent of the people who appear before him in county court are there for drug related offenses.
An important facet of reducing the amount of crime related to heroin is of course decreasing the demand for the drug.
Many individuals abusing heroin begin with prescription medication, such as Vicodin, Oxycodone or other opioids, say officials, often times prescribed them by a doctor following an injury. Opioid dependence, a important facet of opioid addiction, is easy to develop and is characterized by an individual’s inability to stop using opiates despite being aware it is in his or her best interests to. Some of the symptoms of opioid dependence include: a strong inclination to take the drug, withdrawals, increases in tolerance, increasing neglect of other interests, and increasing use of the drug despite clear evidence of the consequences.
“Then the doctor says no more – and they start looking for it on the street,” said Everard. The withdrawals can hit within 24 hours after the last does of the opiate is taken and can manifest as extreme flu-like symptoms. However, black market opiate pills can be very expensive, though widely available, and individual’s are often pointed in the direction of heroin, which can cost as little as one-fourth of its pharmaceutical counterparts.
And then comes the stealing. Most often it begins with other family members; a missing brooch here, a gold ring there. In turn, family members are in many cases unlikely to turn their loved ones in. All the while, the addiction is growing, becoming harder to feed as an individual’s tolerance intensifies even as the need remains tangible and compelling.
Everard estimates approximately half of the people currently enrolled in Treatment Court are there due to opioid dependence. Only individuals convicted of felonies are enrolled in Treatment Court and most are convicted of crimes related to breaking into homes to either obtain something to sell or empty the medicine cabinet.
The first important piece of treatment for addiction is managing withdrawal. Blood work is also an important step, as many of those who use heroin intravenously run the risk of contracting diseases such as hepatitis or HIV. Fighting an addiction to heroin is a daunting and lengthy task, as the brain can take up to a year to revert back to a normal state, as opiates affect the body’s natural ability to create dopamine and can interfere with an individual’s ability to be happy.
“I think what keeps people from seeking help is a moral stigma,” said Everard. “They try to handle it on their own and that can be a mistake. There is a lot of help out there for people, but there is also a lot of misunderstanding. They are not weak or bad people, they may do bad things while under the influence, but they are really just sick people trying to get well.”
The best place for individuals in Chenango County seeking to fight addiction to turn to is the Chenango County Alcohol and Drug Abuse Center. The confidentiality of medical information for those who seek treatment is protected by law.
Those who are seeking help, or concerned parties, should call 337-1680.