Third Of Three Parts Ten years ago, heroin hit Plano like a deadly tornado, spawning addiction and destroying lives in its path. A spate of fatal heroin overdoses – at least 20 over three years beginning in 1996 – sounded the alarm and thrust the assumed "safe" suburb with its low crime rate, big houses and excellent schools into the national spotlight. Although a decade has passed, scores of people are still dealing with the repercussions, the damage done in heroin's wake. Here's a brief look at a few and how they are faring. A recovering addict [continues 1548 words]
After a year in the clear, police wonder what's the next fix PLANO - Lawrence Preston ticks off the names of the Plano young people he knew who overdosed on heroin and died. "Mondo, Erin, Natacha," said Lawrence, who asked that his real name not be used. They were kids he went to school with in the All-America City. Their deaths came early in what became a wave of fatal teen heroin overdoses that rocked Plano between 1996 and 1998. There were nearly 20 in all. And just as the teen heroin crisis seemed to have passed, a former Dallas Cowboy, Plano resident Mark Tuinei, overdosed and died. [continues 1258 words]
Youths Crowded Plano Site, They Say PLANO - No matter the time of day or night, scores of clean-cut-looking youths beat a path to the little blue house on the east side of Plano. Sometimes they blocked the street with their Mustangs and sport-utility vehicles as they dashed in, neighbors say. "I just couldn't believe that it went on as long as it did," said Vickie, 43, who lived across the street. "You knew what was going on there," said the woman, who asked that her last name not be used. [continues 1313 words]
Plano targeted as market for heroin PLANO - More than two dozen suspected drug dealers have been indicted under a special federal conspiracy law in connection with the heroin-related deaths of four teenagers with ties to Plano, officials announced Wednesday. A federal grand jury in Sherman issued the 36-count indictment. It alleges that the 29 targeted Plano as a new market for heroin. The defendants knew that the drug was killing young people but continued selling it to them, the indictment charges. [continues 1038 words]
But crack, alcohol still area's biggest concerns, official says The number of heroin addicts seeking help at a Dallas referral agency jumped dramatically last year, an increase that reflects the drug's growing popularity across Texas, according to a forthcoming state report. The study analyzed records for 2,468 people who sought help at the Greater Dallas Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse last year. It found that 2.6 percent of the people seeking help in the first four months of 1997 named heroin as their primary drug. For the year's last four months, that figure climbed to 12.6 percent. [continues 732 words]
Plano viewers call show disturbing PLANO - The glare of national publicity shone again on drug abuse in Plano Tuesday night, and residents who watched MTV's "True Life: Fatal Dose," got a half-hour of heartache. "It's very upsetting. It gives me goose bumps," said Steffani Morgan, a Plano hairdresser who, along with her husband, was riveted to the fast-paced program. "A lot of the girls I work with are in high school," she said. "A lot of their friends are dying." [continues 532 words]
But suspect questions tactics of investigation Plano Police Chief Bruce Glasscock defended his department's undercover stings in Plano high schools Monday against allegations of entrapment and child endangerment by a student and his parents. "We . . . are confident this investigation was handled in a professional manner," the chief said during a news conference Monday afternoon. He said the Collin County district attorney's office reviewed his department's information before any warrants were issued, and that a Collin County grand jury indicted those arrested. [continues 624 words]
Task Force Says Suspects Supplied Mexican Drug For Sale In Plano By Linda Stewart Ball / The Dallas Morning News PLANO A multiagency drug task force has cut off a major supply of Mexican blacktar heroin to the Plano area by arresting the leader and several members of a small drug ring, authorities said Wednesday. After a twomonth investigation by Plano police and federal agents, five undocumented immigrants from Mexico were arrested in a Sunday raid in McKinney. It was the biggest operation for the task force, which includes Plano police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, the Texas Department of Public Safety, Dallas police and state and federal prosecutors. McKinney police and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service also assisted in the Sunday raid. [continues 737 words]
1,500 attend meeting called by police By Linda Stewart Ball / The Dallas Morning News PLANO The Police Department, saying it needed help to fight a growing heroin problem in the suburbs, sent out a 911 call Thursday night, and more than 1,500 people responded. The recent heroin deaths of at least 11 youths with Plano ties spurred many to action. The latest victim was 16yearold Plano Senior High School junior, Erin Baker, who died of a suspected heroin overdose in Denton Sunday. [continues 523 words]
By Linda Stewart Ball / The Dallas Morning News For more than a decade, Plano recorded no heroin deaths. Then drug dealers, in search of a new market for a purer and highly addictive heroin, began moving into the suburbs. There, they found naive young adults with money. Since 1996, at least 10 people with a Plano connection have died heroinrelated deaths. All were young white males except for a 36yearold black man and an 18yearold white woman. Their stories contradict the stereotype of heroin as a problem of the innercity poor. [continues 3091 words]
Heroin's grip extends beyond the inner city By Linda Stewart Ball and Ed Timms / The Dallas Morning News PLANO Junkies used heroin in the inner city. Suburbia seemed a haven from crime and violence. But that illusion and stereotype began to crumble in Plano on New Year's Eve, when Adam Wade Goforth, a 19yearold Marine, died of a heroin overdose while he was visiting his folks for the holidays. Since then, heroin has claimed at least seven other lives in Plano. Most were teenagers or young adults. [continues 1512 words]
By Linda Stewart Ball / The Dallas Morning News PLANO Every Sunday, Mass at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Plano ends with an update on the number of young adults who have died from heroin. Members of the 17,000member parish also are told where they can call for information about the heroin problem. It's taken 10 deaths, but some Plano residents are starting to acknowledge that heroin has come to their city. "Everybody is very interested and very concerned about what's going on, especially the young people," said Jim Geller, director of youth ministries at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton. [continues 820 words]
