Pubdate: Wed, 03 Mar 2004
Source: Las Vegas Sun (NV)
Copyright: 2004 Las Vegas Sun, Inc
Contact:  http://www.lasvegassun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/234

DRUG-RELATED DEATHS ON THE RISE IN LAS VEGAS

LAS VEGAS (AP) - The Las Vegas area had some of the highest numbers of 
drug-related deaths compared with 33 other metropolitan areas nationwide, 
according to new report.

Tuesday's report by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration showed Las Vegas had 376 drug-related deaths in 2002, up 
from 273 the previous year. The 38 percent increase was third highest among 
the metropolitan areas, which voluntarily reported the data to the federal 
agency. Other areas included Chicago, New York and Washington, D.C.

Law enforcement, counseling and academic experts in southern Nevada said 
the numbers were alarming and showed more prevention and treatment were needed.

"We're very concerned about these numbers," said Las Vegas police Sgt. 
Blake Quackenbush. "It's frustrating because you'd like to see them go down."

Quackenbush, a 12-year veteran of the department's narcotics unit, and 
other experts said the growing drug problem stems partly from changing 
trends in drug abuse nationwide, particularly the increased purity of 
heroin and the rise in prescription drug abuse, and the Las Vegas lifestyle.

"In my experience, in Vegas it's a fast lifestyle ... (that) draws gamblers 
with an addictive personality and a lot of people who have no family or 
friends for support, so they turn to drugs when they have problems," 
Quackenbush said.

Cathy Arentz, clinical director for Economic Opportunity Board's treatment 
division, said drug use "seems to go with the culture of the city."

"It's the 'What happens here, stays here' thing, where it's more accepted 
here to do things that may not be accepted in other parts of the country," 
Arentz said.

The nonprofit Economic Opportunity Board runs one of Las Vegas' three 
inpatient treatment centers for substance abuse. The other two are run by 
WestCare and the Salvation Army.

Arentz said she sees addicts struggling with some of the most prevalent 
drugs mentioned in the report as being direct or indirect causes of death 
in the Las Vegas area. Those include methamphetamine and the prescription 
drug OxyContin.

Information from: Las Vegas Sun
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom