From rural Bellville, to urban Mansfield, heroin usage is affecting numerous citizens in Richland County. Well aware of the problem, officials have been working continually to mitigate and control and control it.
At the October METRICH Enforcement Unit annual meeting, Chief Sgambellone reported that already this year, the METRICH region (which covers ten counties) has had 1040.79 grams of heroin removals. This number has spiked exponentially since 2005, when the number of heroin removals was less than 100 grams, according to data provided by METRICH.
“We continue to aggressively go after the dealers. It seems like every five or ten years, there’s a new drug. In the ‘90s it was crack cocaine, then it went to prescription pills, and now it is heroin,” stated METRICH Commander Lt. Keith Porch.
Lt. Porch also noted that because prescription pills are expensive, running about $40 for a 30 milligram pill, many users have switched to heroin for cost reasons.
Based on interviews he has had with heroin users, Lt. Porch added, “When people take heroin for the first time, they get such a great high, the second time they take it, it’s not as great of a high. So they’re always chasing that first time, and eventually, they’re taking it just to function.”
As for how METRICH has been trying to handle the issue, Lt. Porch explained, “Enforcement action is a big part, but it is also education to the youth and encouraging addicts to seek treatment—we always attempt to provide resources for people to seek treatment.”
The Bellville Police Department is also working on this issue through a partnership with METRICH. Chief Ron Willey explained that the Bellville police department has been dealing with a heroin problem that has been increasingly prevalent over the last few years.
He described the difficulty of dealing with the problem in a small village, noting that many of the users and traffickers in Bellville have a “guarded group,” and are very cautious about how they deal drugs. Therefore, attaining the information needed for a search warrant or arrest warrant is made more challenging.
He further noted that limited resources and funding available to carry out drug investigations and those investigations can take a long time to process.
“We have a lot more users than dealers,” Willey said. “A lot of it is coming from the Mansfield area.”
Theft and burglary are a common result of the addiction. “The drive of the need causes them to steal from even their own family members,” said Willey.
Chief Willey further noted that heroin addiction is not exclusive to only a certain demographic or region. “Nine times out of 10, it’s not specific type to any one type of area. It’s in well-developed areas, apartment complexes, $300,000 homes,” he said.
Lt. Porch referenced drug court as a possible treatment, which is typically for first-time low-level offenders. Those involved must attend meetings, abide by a curfew, get a job, and meet with their probation officers.
One source of local treatment is found on Park Avenue West in Mansfield. Three C Counseling provides another avenue for rehabilitation.
Director of Operations Timothy Batdorf explained, “Each individual’s treatment is specifically geared towards the issues surrounding the individual. The main issue surrounding treatment is if the individual truly is ready to stop using. There are certain stages of change everyone goes through and that is key. All the treatment, interventions, jail time, etcetera will not do any good if the individual continues to use and not engage in treatment both in the office setting and in life settings.”
Three C Counseling is among the rehab facilities that educates clients on the realities of detox. The facility offers a Suboxone program and methadone program to help with withdrawals. “We develop a sober plan, which includes sober coping skills, a sober support system, how to handle triggers/cravings. This list is extensive when working with each individual because we design treatment for each individual. We typically start to see results of engagement within a few weeks of enrolling in our program and the repair of their life begins, from family relationships to possibly getting them back to work,” said Batdorf.
“Treatment is not a quick process; it can be lengthy depending on severity and in some cases require detox or inpatient stay. However, there is always the chance to kick the addiction or habit of anything,” he added.
Batdorf also pointed to The Richland County Mental Health and Recovery Board as another great resource that covers mental health and addiction recovery.
Citizens are encouraged to be proactive by reporting suspected drug activity. Citizens can call the METRICH crime tip hotline at 419-52-CRIME (419-522-7463) or 419-755-9728.
“Enforcement action is a big part, but it is also education to the youth and encouraging addicts to seek treatment—we always attempt to provide resources for people to seek treatment,” said Lt. Keith Porch.
