Forum looked at heroin impact

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The program hosted in March by the Tipp City Police Department and Tipp City Masonic Lodge 174 filled the city government center council chambers for a program featuring health officials, law enforcement and service/treatment providers.

Participants including Janel Hodges of Miami County Public Health discussed local statistics and trends of drug use. Hodges reported 102 overdoses in the county in January, compared to 15 in January 2014 and 61 in January 2016.

The overdoses are divided fairly evenly between men and women with the most in the 25 through 34 age group followed by 35 to 44 age group, Hodges said.

Also discussed were the increased use of Narcan by police and emergency services workers to revive those who have overdosed and efforts to expand treatment options for addicts including the recent opening of a men’s social detox house in Troy. Other topics included the increased number of drivers under the influence of drugs.

Tipp City Police Officer Tony Smith said the city council approved hiring a second police detective with the position focused on drugs.

“Not every addict is a thief or a burglar, but those property crimes are increasing dramatically over the last couple of years. Our citizens are falling victims of more crime,” he said. Tipp City Police Chief Eric Burris noted the department would seek more money from the city for its budget to buy Narcan during the year’s second quarter.

Dwight Richard of Recovery and Wellness Center of Midwest Ohio in Troy said the heroin epidemic is getting worse.

Thom Grim of the Miami County Recovery Council said new approaches are being tried and options need to grow because of the epidemic. Medication assisted treatment and a new social detox house for men in Troy are among new offerings.

Kim McGuirk of the Tri-County Board of Recovery and Mental Health said around 60 percent of calls for help come from parents looking to help their children.

More seminars/public forums are planned in the county in coming months along with a second Hope Over Heroin event by the Miami County Heroin Coalition. This year’s Hope Over Heroin activities will be held at Mote Park, Piqua, on Aug. 11-12.

More information on resources is available in a guide developed last year by the heroin coalition. It is available on the MCRC website at www.mcrcinc.org.