Pubdate: Thu, 14 Aug 2008
Source: Akron Beacon Journal (OH)
Copyright: 2008 The Beacon Journal Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.ohio.com/mld/beaconjournal/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/6
Author: Rick Armon
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

YOUTHS' HEROIN USE RISES

White, Suburban Ohioans First Hooked On Prescriptions

Heroin abuse among white youth and young suburban  adults is
increasing in Ohio, according to a new report  released Wednesday.

The report, which detailed drug trends in the state,  attributed the
increase to more young people becoming  hooked first on prescription
drugs.

''For some youth, they start off with prescription drug  abuse and
it's not a strong enough opiate and then they  go to heroin,'' said
Amanda Conn Starner, a spokeswoman  for the Ohio Department of Alcohol
and Drug Addiction  Services.

The semi-annual report was released by the Ohio  Substance Abuse
Monitoring Network, a research  partnership of the state agency,
Wright State  University and the University of Akron. Researchers
interview drug users, treatment providers and law  enforcement to
determine the drug trends.

The analysis, which covered June 2007 to January 2008,  was a mixed
bag, according to officials.

''There hasn't been a huge change in the drug scene,''  said Sonia A.
Alemagno, director of the Institute for  Health and Social Policy at
the University of Akron.

Overall heroin use -- which now includes a spike in  black tar heroin
- -- has remained steady over the last  couple of years. Prescription
drug abuse combined with alcohol use among youth  and senior citizens
also has remained consistent.

''We're still having a problem with people going to  their medicine
cabinets and abusing the drugs that are  there,'' Conn Starner said.

Meanwhile, there's been no significant change in  marijuana or cocaine
use, which remains high.

The good news is that abuse of methamphetamines and  OxyContin is
declining because of a lack of street  availability, the report said.

Counselors at Oriana House Inc., a nonprofit treatment  provider in
Akron, agreed with the report's findings,  especially concerning heroin use.

''Clients at a younger age -- as young as high school  students -- are
getting involved with prescription  opioids and then they move up to
OxyContin, but it  becomes cost prohibitive and they move to heroin
because it's cheaper,'' said Mike Burkett,  administrative services
coordinator for Oriana House.

Heroin also is readily available in Akron.

It used to be that 75 percent of clients at Oriana  House's A.D.M.
Crisis Center checked in for alcohol  abuse, but now 50 percent are
being treated for  opiates, which include morphine, heroin and codeine.

The younger generation has been exposed to more  prescription drugs,
whether it's pain medication or a  drug to control attention deficit
disorder, Alemagno  said. Because of that exposure, members of the
''pill  generation'' don't recognize themselves as drug abusers  when
they are taking prescription medication, she said.

''Even their parents were raised to think that anything  can be fixed
with a pill,'' Alemagno said.

The Ohio Substance Abuse Monitoring Network report also  identified
drug trends by region. In addition to  heroin, other drugs such as
crack, cocaine, oxycodone,  hydrocodone and benzodiazepines can easily
be found in  Akron. The community also is seeing an increase in the
hallucinogenic drug Ecstasy.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin