Drug Task Forces Tackling Heroin Epidemic In Ohio

By Alex Lomicka and Karen Scott

“Drug overdose is the leading cause of accidental deaths in our country. That became true in 2007,” said Emily Metz, Program Coordinator for MetroHealth Project DAWN.

“Project DAWN is an organization that stands for Deaths Avoided With Naloxone,” Metz said. “Naloxone is the antidote to any kind of opiate overdose. We teach individuals how to rescue someone experiencing an opiate overdose.”

Project DAWN is a part of the drug task force In Cuyahoga County.

The leading cause for heroin use, sports injuries, based on multiple interviews we conducted.

Below are some additional interviews and information regarding heroin use and it leading to other drug addictions.

https://m.soundcloud.com/user-978050633/drug-task-force

“Student injuries torn ACLs, stuff like that doctor’s are prescribing Oxycodone and Percocet and you can become addicted to that in 30 days. The doctor cuts you off and you’re still addicted,” Detective Norman of The Summit County Drug Unit said.

Nancy E. Pommerening, the Drug Awareness and Prevention Executive Director Drug Awareness and Prevention Inc. based out of Ohio agrees.

“They take the medicine they are prescribed pain medication which are opiate based drugs…any normal drugs a doctor my give you. They can become extremely addictive. When those aren’t available anymore a lot of kids have found out heroin is the street alternative,” Pommerening said.

According to The Opiate Task Force Report for 2014, presented by Cuyahoga County, “Local heroin use is not only on the rise, it is taking lives at unprecedented levels. According to the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner, heroin is now the most commonly abused drug associated with overdose deaths in Cuyahoga County.”

The report also states that heroin deaths have risen 400% since 2007.

The drug task force consists of a variation of people in society, Pommerening said.

“It is a coalition of people from all walks of life dealing with an issue. We have people in treatment, people in law enforcement; we have people from the medical community.” Pommerening said.

“75% of people who use heroin in our country today and in our program started with a prescription opiate. Whether it was prescribed to themselves or someone else,” Metz said.

To deal with this issue, the drug task forces in Ohio and other organizations, specifically Project DAWN are emphasizing and encouraging the distribution and education of Naloxone kits.

Naloxone, a nasal spay, available to family members of and heroin addicts themselves. People die from a heroin overdose because they stop breathing. It is a nasal spay. If someone stops breathing,” Pommering said. “Imagine this someone came into your brain and knocks the opiate off of your brain receptors and you start breathing again. It’s an incredible thing.”

Videos demonstrating and explaining the kit can be found on Youtube. To see how to use the kit refer to the video below. This video was originally posted by the Veterans Health Administration on its YouTube page.

Metz said that the number one question she gets asked about these kits is if they enable drug use. She said research conducted has proven the opposite.

“Overdose is traumatic and is often someone’s rock bottom that may propel them into treatment. That can’t happen if someone doesn’t survive. This is an extremely safe medicine.  Drug users are often forgot in these conversations and honestly their seen saving the most lives with these kits.”

According to The Opiate Task Force Report for 2014, presented by Cuyahoga County, “Fatal and non-fatal drug poisonings cost Ohioans $3.6 billion annually, or $303 per resident…In 2011 it was reported Nearly five Ohioans died each day due to a drug overdose, an average of one person every five hours.”

Lieutenant Lincoln of the Portage County Drug task forceit has increased amount of overdoses in the county. “We have a meth problem. That can be made in two hours. Making meth to support their heroin habit. “

Metz said through the various task forces and organizations the heroin problem is being dealt with. The goal is to prevent heroin use and accidental deaths and take the numbers down from epidemic levels

“We are trying to save lives and increasing access to this medicine for people who come to our program,” Metz said. “Now over 30 counties have a Project DAWN type program so it has grown substantially in the past couple years.”