Pubdate: Thu, 24 Apr 2014 Source: Union-News (MA) Copyright: 2014 Union-News Contact: http://www.masslive.com/unionnews/index.ssf Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/860 Author: Conor Berry, The Republican Note: Material from The Republican / MassLive, CBS3 Springfield, the Boston Globe, the Greenfield Recorder and the officer of Gov. Deval Patrick was used in this report. GREENFIELD POLICE CHIEF ROBERT HAIGH SAYS FRANKLIN COUNTY CITY MAKING STRIDES IN COMBATING HEROIN PROBLEM Greenfield - New city police Chief Robert Haigh says Greenfield is well aware of the commonwealth's growing opiate addiction problem, a major topic of discussion in recent months. Gov. Deval Patrick last month declared a public health emergency due to a rise in heroin overdoses and opiate abuse across the commonwealth. For Haigh, who was sworn in as chief in November, the crisis is hitting home. "The increase in overdoses is drastic," he said at a Wednesday night public safety meeting at Greenfield police headquarters, according to CBS3 Springfield, media partner of MassLive / The Republican. "I don't think any of us believe we can arrest our way out of a problem, certainly this problem. We are not going to arrest our way out of heroin and opiate overdoses," Haigh said at the session. Since becoming chief, Haigh says he hasn't gone a week without receiving a report of an opiate overdose, citing at least 23 overdoses in his jurisdiction alone, CBS3 reports. There have been 20 reported overdose deaths in Hampshire and Franklin counties this year alone, according to the TV station. Haigh says people are buying cheap heroin in greater Springfield and selling it for nearly double the price in Greenfield. The chief says Greenfield is trying to stay ahead of the problem, citing the Franklin County Opioid Education and Awareness Task Force as a step in the right direction. Haigh recently discussed the issue with Anthony Bourdain, the chef and TV star who was filming at various Western Massachusetts locations this month. Haigh says social media has been instrumental in getting the word out about the extent of the problem, CBS 3 reports. "People are calling us now; they know it's out there. We're letting them know that we are here. So by us being here and saying, 'Yeah, give us a call,' maybe we are getting a few more calls, and that's a good thing as well," he said. The Opioid Education and Awareness Task Force the brainchild of Franklin Register of Probate and Family Court John Merrigan, Franklin County Sheriff Christopher Donelan and Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan held a February conference at Greenfield Community College that attracted several hundred people. The goal of the task force, which was formed last year, is to take a united approach to combating heroin and opioid abuse across Franklin and Hampshire counties and the North Quabbin Region. To tackle the problem, Patrick declared a public health emergency on March 27, ordering the Department of Public Health to make Narcan available immediately to all first responders, as well as more accessible to families and friends of drug addicts. Narcan, though controversial, is a potentially life-saving drug that can quickly reverse the effects of a heroin overdose, though only temporarily. Patrick said today's heroin "is cheap and highly potent," and heroin addiction is often an outgrowth of addiction to oxycodone and other narcotic painkillers a growing Massachusetts problem for a decade or more. At least 140 people have died from suspected heroin overdoses in the past several months, prompting Patrick to call it a "previously unseen" death rate in state history. "What we have is an opiate epidemic. So, we will treat it like the public health crisis it is," the governor said. Material from The Republican / MassLive, CBS3 Springfield, the Boston Globe, the Greenfield Recorder and the officer of Gov. Deval Patrick was used in this report. [image caption] Since becoming Greenfield's top cop in November, Chief Robert Haigh has taken a proactive approach to tackling crime, drug abuse and other issues in his Franklin County city. On Wednesday night, he held a public safety forum at the police station to interface with citizens, many of whom now log on regularly to the Greenfield Police Department's Facebook page as a clearinghouse for crime and other information. (Greenfield Police Department / Facebook) - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D