Pubdate: Fri, 30 Oct 2009
Source: Daily Sentinel, The (OH)
Copyright: 2009 The Daily Sentinel
Contact:  http://www.mydailysentinel.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4282
Author: Charlene Hoeflich

OFFICER TALKS DRUGS AND DANGER; CRIME WATCH COMMITTEE FORMED

SYRACUSE -- The connection between crime and drugs was  discussed and
a chairman for a neighborhood crime watch  program was named at
Wednesday's meeting of Syracuse  residents and others at the Syracuse
Community Center.

Meeting with the residents were Detective Jason Kline  and Deputy
Jimmy Childs of the Athens County Sheriff's  Department, along with
local officials, Police Chief  Shannon Smith and Leslie Edwards of the
Syracuse Police  Department and Mayor Eric Cunningham.

Following a program by Detective Kline on various  drugs, their
addiction and effects on a user, the  residents began the process of
organizing a  neighborhood crime watch. Tom Weaver volunteered to 
serve as the leader for the group and volunteers are  being solicited
to serve on the committee. Weaver can  be contacted at 992-3272.

In a power point program, Kline presented information  to the group on
major drugs that negatively affect  communities. He listed alcohol as
the most abused drug.  Next on the list was cocaine which he described
as a  white powder substance resembling baking powder with a  yellow
or brownish tint, which creates a 15-20 minute  emotional high, is
ingested by snorting, or can be  injected, eaten or smoked. The effect
on the user, he  said, is feeling anxious.

As for heroin, widely abused during 1960's to 70"s,  Kline said it is
making a strong come back in rural  communities. According to officer,
heroin is primarily  injected, cannot be grown in the United States
due to  climate issues and is shipped in from South America.  The most
prevalent in southeast Ohio is Black Tar  Heroin generally packaged in
small balloons inside  baggies.

When injected, he said it causes a person to become  drowsy with
dilated pupils, making an individual unable  to focus because it
depresses the central nervous  system. People who use heroin get sick
if they don't  have a fix every six to eight hours, the officer added.
 Withdrawal symptoms are severe, A person using heroin  will have
needle marks in their veins that can collapse  or develop abscesses
and other serious health  complications.

He also spoke about marijuana, commonly called "Meigs  County Gold,"
grass, bud, or pot, and has a distinctive  odor. Kline said it is
commonly smoked in pipes or  sometimes used in food, and causes a
person to feel  mellow and get the munchies.

As for methamphetamine or "Meth" as it is commonly  called, Kline said
it is a one hundred percent human  produced narcotic that is extremely
flammable,  hazardous and carcinogenic. It is made from common 
household items and when ingested, caused euphoria,  increased
alertness, concentration and energy. It may  cause weight loss,
increased self-esteem, confidence  and libido. Kline advised everyone
to stay away from  people using the drug because they can be extremely
 dangerous.

Prescription narcotics such as Oxycontin, Percocet,  Vicodin,
Kolanapin, Rocycodine and Valium are all  legally prescribed for
medical issues, but can all be  abused. These drugs can be ingested by
snorting, taken  orally or injected, he said.

Kline advised anyone seeing drug activity occurring to  contact
authorities, and not attempt to deal with it  because of the danger.
Vehicles involved in drug  activity can be confiscated, he said, and
this hurts  the drug dealer. These vehicles are then sold and the 
money is used to provide equipment for the local law  enforcement
agency, he explained.

He recommended starting up the DARE program again so a  preventative
program is in place for the youth in the  county. Grant money is
available for this program to  pay deputies to go to schools to talk
to youngsters  about the danger of drugs. 
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MAP posted-by: Richard R Smith Jr