ALPARAISO - County officials are being forced to find a new source of funding for a drug and alcohol treatment program for inmates at Porter County Jail. The intensive outpatient program Porter-Starke Services ran had been funded by a $25 fee charged of everyone booked at the jail, Porter County Commissioner Bob Harper said. The state, however, ended that fee over the summer on grounds it was not fair, Harper said. That has left the county with a quickly diminishing amount of money for the program. [continues 111 words]
While Saddened, Official Said Death Is Possibility With Heroin Addicts PORTAGE -- Officials with the county's new drug court said they were saddened by news that one of their clients was found dead this week of a possible drug overdose. The death of 25-year-old Jared Back is the first casualty for the nearly nine-month-old program, but is unfortunately the norm for drug courts and heroin addicts in general, Porter County Deputy Prosecutor Adam Burroughs said. The county program has had the unusual experience up until now of not having so much as a positive drug test among participants, he said. [continues 310 words]
Role Of New Testing Procedures VALPARAISO -- The number of probationers testing positive for cocaine use fell by one-half over previous months since the county began implementing a new oral procedure aimed at eliminating the potential of false results. Fourteen percent of the oral tests taken in August came back positive, as compared to 30 percent in June, 33 percent in May, 11 percent in April and 31 percent in March, Porter County Adult Probation Chief Neil Hannon said. Few oral tests were taken in July because of the reliability concerns raised by defense attorneys. [continues 234 words]
Chief Neil Hannon Likes Short-Term Use Of The Treatment Valparaiso -- Officials at the Porter County Adult Probation Department planned to meet today to hear about a drug that is touted as an alternative to methadone for those hoping to free themselves from heroin addiction. Porter County Adult Probation Chief Neil Hannon said he is encouraged by buprenorphine and its promise as a short-term treatment, as opposed to long-term use of methadone. Both buprenorphine and methadone are replacement drugs and both are supposed to be used as short-term treatment, said Carmen Arlt, director of chemical dependency and addiction for Porter-Starke Services Inc. [continues 107 words]
Participation In New Program Growing Slowly VALPARAISO | Krystle O'Barske said she did not initially want to take part in the county's new drug court program. The 21-year-old heroin addict said she was prepared to remain at the jail instead, because nothing much would be expected of her. Yet after taking part in drug court program for the past three months and staying away from heroin for a personal best of more than seven months, O'Barske said she now would recommend the program to other addicts. [continues 264 words]
Warning Comes Early Enough For Officials To Stem The Tide The authors of a study placing Porter County among the top 10 in the nation in heroin-related deaths have found signs that a similar trend may be emerging in neighboring LaPorte County. Five young men have been arrested on heroin charges this year in the city of LaPorte, following only a limited number of arrests aside from a multi-jurisdictional task force sweep in Michigan City last year, according to a study released Wednesday by Roosevelt University in Chicago and its Institute for Metropolitan Affairs. The study also identified a 236-percent increase in the number of opiate pills seized county wide between 2001 and 2004, which is another troubling trend considering users often switch to heroin because the drug is cheaper, said co-author Kathleen Kane-Willis. [continues 229 words]
Krystle O'barske Waking Up To A New Life VALPARAISO | Krystle O'Barske said she hated heroin when she first tried it at age 11. She threw up and was convinced she would never do it again. Two days later, she was back snorting the drug. "I got high, and I never left," she said. The former Lakes of the Four Seasons resident spent the next 10 years battling an addiction to the illegal drug. She succeeded at first in hiding behind the cover of a cheerleader and soccer player at Boone Grove schools, but soon found herself living on the streets and falling victim to sexual assaults, thefts and beatings. [continues 446 words]
First Two Participants Remain Drug-Free But Still Suffer Pains Of Recovery Krystle O'Barske crossed a huge barrier this month, perhaps the largest of her 21 years. After spending the last decade struggling with heroin addiction, O'Barske, who first tried heroin at age 11, has gone without the drug for more than seven months, which is a personal best, according to Tammy O'Neill, director of the nonprofit Porter County PACT. Fellow heroin addict Andrea Hric has been clean for more than 10 months after overdosing last fall and nearly dying at age 19. [continues 480 words]
Council Asked To Eliminate Requirement For Umpires, Referees PORTAGE -- Officials at the city's park department are faced with a real challenge when hiring umpires, referees and other seasonal help. A local ordinance requires that the part-time help not only undergo drug testing, but also agree to pay for it themselves. While the policy has gone unchallenged for the past eight years, City Council member Mark Oprisko is now saying that enough is enough. Oprisko is asking his peers on the council to consider removing umpires and referees from the drug testing policy. He also supports the idea of lifting the requirement for other part-time employees as well, yet does not expect that part of the proposal to go too far. [continues 392 words]
