Experts share facts with watch group
ADAMS TWP — Presentations by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration on Thursday night shared the shocking realities of the opioid epidemic.
The forum at the township building was hosted by the newly formed Neighborhood Drug Watch group, which was created to promote awareness among residents of suspicious activity in the township and to provide potential help to addicts and their families via a toll-free number on the signs placed throughout the township.
Brian Dempsey, an intelligence specialist in the DEA's western judicial district, stressed that most heroin addicts start out taking opioid pain medication for an illness or injury. They become addicted, get cut off after visiting multiple doctors to obtain the drugs, and turn to heroin because it is less expensive on the street than prescription painkillers, he said.
Dempsey said while one oxycodone painkiller can cost $30 from a drug dealer, heroin costs $5 to $15 per dose.
“It's a short hop from opioids to heroin,” Dempsey said. “These (painkiller) medicines have a legitimate use, but the risk of addiction is high.”
He said in the late 1990s, opioid medicines were for end-of-life patients only.
“Then the medical community thought, 'This will work for post-operative patients too,'” Dempsey said.
A study using only 24 people produced the false result that only 1 percent of opioid users would become addicted, Dempsey said.
In addition, doctors began being rated on their ability to reduce pain in their patients.
“Pain became the fifth vital sign,” Dempsey said.
Many doctors began doling out excessive pain medications as a result.
“My son had his wisdom teeth removed and the doctor prescribed 30 oxycodone,” Dempsey said.
In 2015, enough oxycodone and hydrocodone was produced to provide every man, woman and child in Pennsylvania with 37 pills.
In 2016, new opioid guidelines were released that recommended doctors “start low and go slow” in prescribing opioids, Dempsey said.
Kelly Wesoloski, a community outreach specialist with the FBI, gave a presentation on the Heroin Outreach Prevention and Education program that she formed in 2015.
“The heroin and opioid epidemic is killing more people than auto accidents,” Wesolosky said. “It affects everyone.”
She has traveled to 25 school districts in seven area counties as well as to numerous community events to give presentations and talk to students and residents about addiction as part of the HOPE program.
The three-pronged program engages younger students, middle and high school students, and parents, coaches, medical professionals and clergy in the community.
Gail Carpenter, the township resident spearheading the Neighborhood Drug Watch, said Thursday night's forum was meant to provide information and begin a nonjudgmental discussion about the opioid and heroin epidemic.
“This is just the beginning of saving lives in (our community) and keeping dealers away,” Carpenter told the dozen people who attended the event.
More information is available at www.neighborhooddrugwatch.com.
