Overdoses on the rise in Woodville
WOODVILLE - Recent overdoses and a spike in overall opiate use has led to an upcoming public forum where law enforcement and expert panelists from Sandusky and Ottawa Counties will speak about the growing heroin epidemic in small communities.
Last week, police assisted three potential overdose cases inside the village of Woodville including two calls on Monday to one address within an hour of each other.
All three cases, which are under investigation, are potentially opiate-related, said Woodville Police Chief Roy Whitehead.
"Heroin was not found, but could it be? Absolutely," Whitehead said. "We've seen an increase in snorting and usually they don't leave a surplus."
Drug use, specifically heroin, has been on the rise the past two years in Woodville, with Whitehead saying the department handled no cases in 2012 only to see that number rise to 51 arrests made in opiate related cases from 2013 to 2015. The problem has been most seen during traffic stops, which account for 90 percent of drug arrests in the village.
"It surfaced in 2013 and we thought it was starting to quiet down. It's a growing trend," said Whitehead.
Combating the drug problem for a small department is never an easy task, though Whitehead said the village has been very proactive in increasing law enforcement presence.
"In 2014 we hired a K-9 unit. Raider and handler Steve Gilkerson have absolutely made a difference," Whitehead said.
Despite feeling like the department is on top of the growing drug use, Whitehead said the newly formed Sandusky County Drug Task Force is another way the small department can crack down on the increased heroin use.
Law enforcement officials throughout Sandusky County have cited a growing problem, and Sandusky EMS is carrying Narcan, the opiate-reversal antidote often administered to users overdosing on heroin and other opiates.
Because of the rise in heroin use, Sandusky County Sheriff Kyle Overmyer has expressed interest in having deputies carry the life-saving opiate antidote.
"I am going to look at alternative funding to maybe have our deputies carry it," Overmyer said.
The demand is growing as Sandusky County EMS administered a record 38 opiate-related injections in 2015, up from 33 in 2014.
Jeff Jackson, Sandusky County EMS director, said EMS carries approximately 28 doses at one time.
Meanwhile, CVS Health announced that its Ohio pharmacies will be selling Narcan without a prescription beginning in late March. Narcan is expected to be sold in doses of two and cost between $40 and $50.
Recent studies by the state also show a rise in fentanyl, a drug combining heroin and other opiates considered 30 to 50 times stronger than heroin.
Sandusky County has seen the rise in fentanyl use, reporting seven fentanyl-related deaths in the 2015.
"This is something we can't fix department by department," Whitehead said. "We have to work together."
"Prior to 2013, heroin was not as bad or noticeable as marijuana. Now we see it more than pot," said Whitehead.
One step planned for cracking down on the drug epidemic is the public forum set to be held at 2 p.m. March 6 at the Woodmore Elementary and Middle School building.
"Some don't think it can happen here, but it's happening to lots of great families," Whitehead said of the drug epidemic. "I think some families are afraid to report it because they feel embarrassed, and being in a small village there is a lack of cooperation among suspects and families."
Whitehead said most families are affected greatly by a member's addiction. He said it goes beyond the addiction and oftentimes addicts steal from families to get money to satisfy their fix.
"We see a lot of addicts pawning family members' TV's and items. Families are definitely the victims, but addiction can grow into other crimes," said Whitehead.
cshoup@gannett.com
419-334-1035
Twitter: CraigShoupNH