Pubdate: Sat, 01 Jul 2006 Source: Times, The (Munster IN) Copyright: 2006 The Munster Times Contact: http://www.nwitimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/832 Note: Series http://www.mapinc.org/source/Times%2C+The+%28Munster+IN%29 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?132 (Heroin Overdose) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/coke.htm (Cocaine) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?136 (Methadone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/fentanyl Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/rehab.htm (Treatment) A Message to Our Readers DRUG OVERDOSE DEATHS NOT ALL HEROIN-RELATED The Times series on heroin in Porter County raised questions among community residents, including those whose deceased loved ones were featured in photos on Sunday. Some were hurt. Some were angry. The photos were published to unmistakably depict the human loss from drug abuse, especially heroin. Showing their faces, we hoped, would show these were real people with real lives and, in some cases, real struggles. A Roosevelt University study released in January 2005, which helped spark the series, examined heroin-related deaths, but also included all opiate-related deaths. The Times included deaths other than those that occurred as a direct result of a heroin overdose, because of the wide scope addiction to opiates -- including heroin -- encompasses. Treatment for those addictions, for instance, can be abused. Methadone often is prescribed as a treatment for addiction to opiates such as heroin, codeine, Demerol and morphine. Methadone -- which metabolizes in the body as morphine -- also can be abused like other opiates and bought on the streets. It also can be prescribed by a doctor as a pain-management drug. To clarify the reasons certain deaths were included, The Times is re-publishing the names. Today's report includes more detailed information -- much of it from the Porter County Coroner's Office. Two people who died methadone-related deaths should not have been included in Sunday's report; there was no history of substance abuse although their deaths were reported as opiate-related. Those individuals were Martin Myers, 41, of Portage, and Beverly Herrold, 57, of Portage. They were prescribed methadone for pain management. The Times regrets any implication that they abused or were addicted to drugs. Myers' brother, Stanley Myers of Valparaiso, expressed doubt about the use of methadone as a pain medication. "In my perception, methadone should just be used to treat heroin addiction, but not for pain reasons," Stanley Myers said. "I think it's (methadone) more addictive -- up there with OxyContin. It's very dangerous, and I have heard that from several people." The following individuals were taking methadone prescribed by a doctor: *Murphy Walker-Harrell, 41, of Valparaiso, died of a methadone overdose and allegedly abused prescription drugs. *Rebecca Reed, 46, of Portage, died of a synergistic drug interaction and had a reported history of prescription drug abuse. *Rachel Phillips, 20, of Chesterton, died of asphyxia from an asthma attack caused by methadone toxicity. She allegedly had a history of intravenous drug use. The following people were not prescribed methadone, but died from overdoses of the drug: * Jacob Fleischer, 34, of Valparaiso. He did not have a history of heroin use. * Amy Ferron, 33, of Valparaiso, died of a methadone overdose. * Russell Smith, 38, of Portage, died of a mixed drug reaction of methadone and alcohol. The following died of a mix of heroin and other substances: * Meaghan Greene, 19, of Chesterton, died of a fentanyl overdose coupled with heroin. * Ricky Bane, 45, of Portage, died of a reaction from mixing heroin and benzodiazepine. Those who died from an overdose of prescription opiates were: * Walter Turner, 43, of Portage. He died of an overdose of prescription morphine. * Mary McCauley, 51, of Chesterton, died of an overdose of prescription fentanyl. * William Oates, 45, of Valparaiso, died of an overdose of toxic morphine. Those whose causes of death were from heroin overdoses were: * Steven Klee, 52, of Chesterton. * Juan Cardona, 28, of Portage. * Kathleen Dec, 20, of Portage. * Shawn Rivera, 18, of Westville. * Scott Kearby, 46, of Portage. * Matthew Redelman, 23, of Portage. * Michael Gore, 23, of Valparaiso. * Arron Deardurff, 23, of Valparaiso * Donna Hanish, 39, of Portage. * Christopher Nunley, 23, of Portage. * Dana Kelley, 26, of Valparaiso. * Mark Chapman, 21, of Portage. * Shawn Polewski, 22, of Portage. * Jennifer Krzanowsky, 16, of Valparaiso. * Mindy Ann Self, 19, of Chesterton (Death information is from a lawsuit filed by her family.) * James A. Miller, 18, of Valparaiso (Miller's family confirmed his cause of death). * Eric K. Martinez, 19, of Chesterton. Details of the type of drug involved are not available from the Porter County Coroner's office. His cause of death was listed as drug overdose. Porter County Drug Task Force Coordinator Robert Taylor said the death was due to a heroin overdose). Heroin was involved in the deaths of: * Manda Spitler, 20, of Valparaiso, whose death was attributed to heroin use and drowning. * Quentin Tallent, 24, of Ellwood, Ind., died of a drug overdose of codeine, heroin and methadone. One individual died of an opiate overdose coupled with another drug: * Craig Hendley, 22, of Portage, died of an overdose of morphine and cocaine and had a blood alcohol content of .13 when he died. One person died a drug-related death with heroin implications: * David Wilson, 36, of Hebron, died of a drug interaction, and drug paraphernalia for heroin use was noted by the coroner's office after the signing of the death certificate. One person's toxicology report is still pending from the coroner's office: * Noreen Legan, 26, of Chesterton, died due to a drug reaction. The coroner's office said she had a history of heroin abuse and held a prescription for Xanax, and is awaiting specific toxicology details. One person's death was reported by the drug task force as heroin-related: * Robert Gilmore, 21, of Valparaiso (Details of the type of drug involved are not available from the Porter County Coroner's office. His cause of death is simply listed as a drug action. Drug Task Force Coordinator Taylor said Gilmore's death was heroin-related). The following died opiate-related deaths outside of Porter County and had an alleged history of opiate abuse: * Nate Bauer, 21, of Valparaiso. * Nick Popoff, 38, of Valparaiso. The following person died a heroin-related death outside of Porter County and lived outside of Porter County. * Roger Muckway, 44, of Westville. Muckway died of a heart attack brought on by consumption of heroin and Valium, according to the LaPorte County Coroner's Office. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman