Recently, Channel 9 aired a two-hour Frontline program about
heroin abuse and the attempts by local governments in Puget Sound to alleviate
what is now considered to be an epidemic. The program, “Chasing Heroin,” is
worth taking the time to watch. It shows the problem from a personal level as
well as from the perspective of local governments who are trying new ways to
take people off drugs. The program takes a sobering view of the challenges that
local governments face in attempting to get people off drugs. It gives some history
in how opiate pain killers have led our society to this point. Is also
discusses some of the current remedies that local governments are trying to
implement such as methadone, drug courts, and programs such as Seattle’s LEAD (Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion). The program shows none of these approaches as
magic bullets. To have improved success will take resources, research and
persistence.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office and the Everett Police
Department both have created teams to bring help to homeless drug addicts and
mentally ill. Say homeless and that bring up the thought of drugs and crime. An
article from The Herald about the Cyborg Bandit portrays the problem of how an
addiction can lead to crime very well (
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160225/NEWS01/160229481.
According to The Herald the Cyborg Bandit, a prolific bank robber, became
addicted to OxyContin and then turned to heroin.
The Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office recently posted on its
Facebook page about a homeless man that it helped to enroll in a drug treatment
program. After graduating from the program, the man is currently enrolled in a
six month transitional program which gives him housing, job training and
outpatient treatment. While this example represents a success, there remains
much work to come to reduce the number of addicted in our society.
Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office:
To see Chasing Heroin go to:
In this KUOW interview, a University of Washington
researcher asserts that most heroin users want help with their addictions:
The City of Everett has announced a donation fund for people
who want to help those who are trying to transition from the streets into
treatment, housing and other services. To find out how you can contribute go
to:
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