Pubdate: Sat, 05 Apr 2014
Source: Daily Reporter (IN)
Copyright: YEAR} Daily Reporter
Contact: http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/page/DR_Letter_to_editor_form
Website: http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/5490
Author: Sarah Plummer Associated Press

HEROIN DEATHS IN W.VA. DOUBLED SINCE 2010; NUMBER SEEKING TREATMENT QUADRUPLES

CHARLESTON, West Virginia - Some states, including West Virginia, are
reporting a rise in heroin use as many addicts shift from more costly
and harder-to-get prescription opiates to this cheaper alternative. A
look at what's happening in West Virginia:

THE PROBLEM:

West Virginia's prescription opiate addicts are following a national
trend as they shift to heroin, said Kenny Burner of the state
Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area.

Burner said the numbers of seizures and overdoses have been steadily
increasing over the past three to five years. Burner overseas drug
task forces in major northern cities in West Virginia, where heroin
comes straight into Appalachia through Detroit, Columbus, Chicago and
Pittsburgh.

THE NUMBERS:

The Department of Health and Human Resources Health Statistics Center
shows heroin overdose deaths have nearly doubled since 2010, from 34
to 67 in 2012. Most deceased are between the ages of 25 and 40 and
predominantly white. Overdose deaths are also overwhelmingly male. Of
the 218 heroin overdose deaths between 2008 and 2012, 166 are male.

RAMIFICATIONS/SOLUTIONS:

Even greater than the increase in deaths, state data shows a huge
increase in the number of West Virginians seeking heroin treatment. In
2013, there were 2,029 heroin treatment admissions to Comprehensive
Behavioral Health Providers, up from 496 in 2011, according to Bureau
for Behavioral Health and Health Facilities data.

Legislation in 2012 relating to substance abuse programs and in 2013
relating to overcrowding in prisons have increased funding for
substance abuse treatment by more than $10 million, according to DHHR.

Burner said another lifesaving change has been urban ambulances
carrying Naloxone (Narcan), a drug used to counter the effects of an
opiate overdose. "Urban ambulances are carrying it on board and are
able to administer it quickly to overdose cases, but as heroin use
works its way down to more rural areas there are more overdose
deaths," he said. Response time for many rural areas can take up to an
hour.

West Virginia already has summits and community forums on opiates, and
these also address heroin, he said. "We know we cannot arrest
ourselves out of this situation. It is going to take community effort
through prevention, enforcement and treatment," Burner said.
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