Ohio City`s Officials Say Heroin is a `Community Problem`
Aug. 30--JEFFERSON -- In 2003, three people died from unintentional overdoses in Ashtabula County, officials said. The 23 black flags posted across the lawn of the old county courthouse each represent someone who fatally overdosed so far this year.
The about 300 white flags nearby, however, are for those who survived an overdose in 2016 through intervention.
Members of the mental health, law enforcement and addiction recovery community met Tuesday to commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day, which falls on Aug. 31 each year.
Last month, Akron-area paramedics logged more than 230 overdose calls, according to the Beacon Journal -- attributed to new heroin additives now spotted in Cuyahoga County. Months ago, the Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's office requested regional law enforcement stop sending fatal overdose cases for autopsies, as the office is overwhelmed, officials said.
"What we really have to project here is this is a community problem," said county Commissioner Dan Claypool during Tuesday's ceremony. "This isn't a county commissioner problem, this isn't a mental health problem, this is truly a community problem.
"I don't think I've seen another problem that has touched as many families or destroyed as many people in the county all together."
Ashtabula County ranks 18th in the state for overdose deaths this year, according to county statistics. Commissioners read a proclamation Tuesday, encouraging citizens to recognize "that we, as a society, need to support initiatives that educate parents, professionals and the general public about the prevention of drug overdose and its devastating effects."
Miriam Walton, director of the county's Mental Health and Recovery Services Board, said though most at Tuesday's ceremony are professionals dealing with opiates' effect every day, the hope is they and other community groups continue inspiring others to take up the fight.
"Talk to your friends. You're going to know somebody that's been affected by this," she said. "Help them find treatment providers. Talk to law enforcement when you see something going on that might help lead them to drug traffickers. Support families that are going through this. ... Be there for your friends.
"It's just a difficult thing."
Kori Marcy-Campbell, funeral director of Marcy Funeral Home in Conneaut, said she felt compelled to form the grassroots drug prevention program Elevation Conneaut after seeing "children losing parents" and "parents losing children" to drug overdoses.
The group hosted its first program alongside the county coroner's office in April. In July, it tapped several resource centers from Erie, Columbus and Arizona to provide information on medication-assisted or faith-based treatment programs at New Leaf Church.
On Saturday, the group hosted a "Light the Night" candlelight vigil for those lost to drug overdose deaths. Marcy-Campbell said the group continues to bring new community members into the fold through relentless advertising. County Sheriff's Department detective Taylor Cleveland is now also a member.
She said Tuesday's ceremony was "much needed."
"There's such a stigma attached to the addiction," she said. "I think this helps bring to light that as communities ... people are starting to come together to rally behind.
"It's time to start talking."
Follow Justin Dennis on Twitter @justindennis.
Copyright 2016 - Star Beacon, Ashtabula, Ohio
