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DRUG OVERDOSES

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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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    Posted: Feb 20 2015 at 5:41pm

Updated: 5:01 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 | Posted: 1:06 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2015

Overdoses top killer in investigated cases

By Rick McCrabb

Staff Writer

BUTLER COUNTY 

    For the first time in the last 35 years — since these statistics were kept — natural deaths were not the leading cause of death among cases investigated by the Butler County Coroner’s Office, according to data released Friday by the coroner.

    Drug overdoses overtook natural causes as the No. 1 cause of death in the 400 cases accepted by the coroner’s office in 2014, said Dr. Lisa Mannix, Butler County coroner. She said there were 137 drug overdoses in the county in 2014, one more death than natural cause deaths. Of those drug deaths, 103, or 75 percent, were caused by heroin use, she said. The year before, the county reported 118 drug deaths and 60 of them, or 51 percent, were heroin related, Mannix said.

    Butler County also saw 46 suicides, 22 motor vehicle traffic fatalities, 33 other fatal accidents, 16 undetermined deaths and 10 homicides last year, according to the report.

    Meanwhile, Warren County reported a slight drop in the number of heroin-related deaths last year compared to 2013. In Warren County, there were 42 drug deaths investigated by the coroner’s office and 14 of them, or 33 percent, were heroin overdoses. But A. Doyle    Burke, chief investigator, said seven more potential heroin deaths are pending. There were 16 heroin overdoses in Warren in 2013 and 11 in 2012, according to statistics from the county.

    In response to what has been called “a heroin epidemic” in Butler County, three heroin summits have been scheduled at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown and the second of those is Monday. The first summit attracted about 40 people, representing a cross section of the community.

    Middletown City Manager Doug Adkins said heroin killed 49 people in the city last year and strained the city’s public safety budget. He said Middletown spent $1.5 million in 2014 dealing with the affects of heroin.

    The initial summit was the first of “many steps” to define the problem, look at root causes, and discuss what options should be explored in education, intervention, treatment, and recovery, he said.

    Adkins was told that some people have said there is no way to control heroin’s grip on the city. Adkins said Middletown must try to reverse the recent trend.

    “There is nothing to be lost and everything to be gained by trying to deal with the problem proactively,” he said. “Even partial success saves lives, reduces crime and reduces taxpayer expenses.”

    DeAnna Shores, from the Safety Council of Southwest Ohio, added: “I know that it may feel like too big of an issue to wrap our arms around, but if we can get people to start small with prevention in their homes, businesses, churches and schools, then every meeting mattered.”

    The city spent $1.3 million in 2014 for the police department, Adkins said, including patrols, special operations by the narcotics unit and jail corrections; $167,000 by the fire department; and more than over $18,000 for indigent burials of drug overdose deaths.

    Butler County Prosecutor Michael Gmoser has estimated that 85 percent of the cases he sees are related to drugs, and Middletown Municipal Court Judge Mark Wall said about 50 percent of court cases are connected to heroin, either because the person used the drug or stole to support their drug habit.

    Jackie Phillips, Middletown health director, said the key to reducing heroin addiction, or any health risk, is education and the earlier it starts the better.

    “We have a lot of passion, we have a lot of resources, we have a lot of love for our city and its residents and that we will not stop until everyone is as healthy as they can possibly be,” she said.

    In response to the community’s need, one Middletown church is hosting a “Power Lunch” every Wednesday, starting March 4, in hopes of reducing the stronghold heroin has on the city, said Lamar Ferrell, pastor of Berachah Church.

    He said the the “Power Lunch” (Launching Unified Neighborhood Community Healing) will be a time for area residents to pray for those impacted by what has been called a heroin epidemic in Middletown and throughout Butler County.

    The lunches will be held at noon every Wednesday at the former Verity School property, 1900 Johns Road. Berachah recently purchased the school and the property for $293,000 from the Middletown City Schools District. He said the lunches will be held indefinitely.

    “We want to see a marked difference within one year,” Ferrell said.

    Every week, he said, a different Middletown neighborhood will be highlighted, and clergy from that area will be asked to lead the prayer. He said the events will last about 15 minutes.


HEROIN ARRESTS

The number of heroin related arrests by the Butler County Sheriff’s Office has dropped the past two years after a record high in 2012.

2005: 19

2006: 24

2007: 25

2008: 52

2009: 117

2010: 96

2011: 137

2012: 233

2013: 149

2014: 142

SOURCE: Butler County Sheriff’s Office

 

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VietVet View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 20 2015 at 6:40pm
In the words of the knight in the Indiana Jones movie, "They chose poorly".

When will we stop attempting to save people from themselves and when will we let people be responsible for their life's choices and experience the consequences for their actions? In a few instances, pain, and watching their friends/family die works wonders in changing the lifestyle pattern. However, most of the time, even an actual death event is not enough to prevent them from duplicating the wrong behavior.

Should society be responsible for bailing out the habitual offenders of life threatening behavior or should we just let them go with the mindset that they made the choice and should live with the consequences, including death? Why are some in our society strong enough to resist the same temptations presented to all of us out on the streets while others choose a death wish? I would imagine strength of character, life's goals, some sprinkled in common sense and upbringing to include priorities in life are determining factors. I would have mentioned social status but there are druggies in all social levels.

Doesn't using heroin (or any other hard drug) scare the hell out of the user, especially the first time using? Or don't they care enough to worry about that. And if that is the case, why should we care about them?

I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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Vivian Moon View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (2) Thanks(2)   Quote Vivian Moon Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 20 2015 at 8:30pm

Vet
For the last several years I have come to the conclusion that we have way too many young men standing around with nothing to do but get into trouble....soooo....I'm now in favor of a draft program or call it a 2 year National Service Works Program. These young men need some firm guidance and a sense of purpose.
Remember years ago if you couldn't get your act together Judge Combs would give you a choice of going to jail or serving Uncle Sam.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote VietVet Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: Feb 21 2015 at 4:35pm
Don't forget the girls too Viv. They too, can serve in the military and some are drug users along with the men.

Don't really want to help pay, through tax payroll deductions, for jail time for these people, nor Narcan treatment. IMO, both jail costs for food, boarding, etc and the Narcan response needs to be paid by the person receiving the services. If they can afford the heroin, they can afford the Narcan treatment and room and board at the local jail. It's bad enough paying for lifelong career government handout program people, especially when they are capable of going to work in the first place.
I'm so proud of my hometown and what it has become. Recall 'em all. Let's start over.
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