Pubdate: Sat, 26 Jul 2008
Source: Wausau Daily Herald (WI)
Copyright: 2008 Wausau Daily Herald
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/zFWcSrzy
Website: http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1321
Author: Jeff Starck
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

OFFICIALS WARY OF HEROIN USE

Police Say Pill Abuse Has Kept Opiate Minimal

The availability of narcotics in central Wisconsin has prevented
heroin abuse from becoming a serious problem,  but local drug
counselors and law enforcement agencies are keeping a wary eye.

Heroin is an opiate drug, a group of substances that also includes
common painkillers hydrocodone (Vicodin)  and oxycodone
(OxyContin).

OxyContin was the target of several high-profile robberies at
Wausau-area drugstores during the past year. Area cash advance stores
also were robbed, often  to pay for drugs, police said.

Many drug addicts start using the less expensive heroin when they
can't afford or are unable to steal  prescription painkillers, said
David Forsythe, who  oversees the narcotics bureau in Wausau for the
state  Department of Criminal Investigations.

Prescription drugs taken improperly are dangerous enough. Charles
Tabaka, 19, of Mosinee died in July  2007 in the town of Wausau of a
methadone overdose.  Methadone is a drug often used to help people
with  heroin withdrawal. Tyler Trelka, 14, of Junction City  died in
October 2007 in Stevens Point of a drug  overdose after another
14-year-old allegedly supplied him with morphine and Vicodin pills at
a party.

But heroin is worse, police say. A heroin distribution ring broken up
earlier this month outside Milwaukee was  linked to five fatal
overdoses. The heroin is more pure and far stronger than users
bargain for, Forsythe said.

"We're hearing about (heroin), but it's not a big sweeping thing (in
central Wisconsin)," Forsythe said.

Marathon County Sheriff's Lt. Gary Schneck, who leads the
department's special investigations unit, could not  remember a
heroin-related arrest in recent years but  said the drug is in the
community. Although heroin is a  major problem in Milwaukee, that city
doesn't have the  methamphetamine abuse problem found in central
Wisconsin, he said.

Sue Nowak, an alcohol and drug prevention specialist at  Premiere
Recovery Services of North Central Health  Care, said teenagers she
works with are aware of heroin but still have easy access to
narcotics. "Pharm  parties," where teens share many pharmaceuticals,
are  common.

Nowak hopes that by reducing prescription drug abuse, heroin won't
become entrenched in the area.

"I'm a strong believer that you have to be aware of what is going on
in the community and have healthy  discussions with each other and
young people," Nowak  said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin