Last Week, someone asked what our local police department was doing in regards to the heroin epidemic. This week's post will address that issue. Last year 68 people in the State of New Hampshire died because of heroin overdoses.
Heroin abuse has been identified as a top public safety priority in NH. It knows no boundaries. It does not just effect the poor. It is not just a city problem and has reached our community and that of our neighbors.
It can effect the young, the old, the rich, the poor. It can reach our own families.
At last town meeting when I spoke about the heroin problem, someone off in the sidelines made the comment, there is no heroin in Middleton. During the last two years, I responded to three medical calls where the victim would have died if not for immediate life saving intervention by the police department along with our Emergency Medical Responders. Most recently I met a high school senior who is an A, B student who overdosed on Heroin.
Our first priority is for the protection of Life. From this standpoint, EMS has trained personnel and carry Narcan on the ambulance. This powerful drug reverses the deadly effects of heroin on the patient. It does not work in all patients but gives us a fighting chance. Normally in a heroin overdose, respiration (breathing) stops. When a person does not breath, the heart stops in a short amount of time and the person dies. The quicker we can get Narcan into a patient, the higher the chances a life can be saved.
From an enforcement state, the police has a zero tolerance in the use of illegal drugs. We will continue to enforce our laws with the help of our Federal, State and County law enforcement partners to enforce the current laws.
We have joined the ONE VOICE Group who mission is to provide treatment and scientifically strategies to communities to deal with Substance Abuse Problems.
We strongly encourage our community members to reach out to us in a few ways to help us rid this problem from our community.
First and foremost, if you have a family member of friend who is addicted, reach out to us. There is treatment services available. We will help you by pointing you in that direction. Unfortunately treatment is only an option if the person with the addiction problem wants help.
The second option and a tough decision to make is report substance abuse to the police. Our correction system is such that they identify substance abuse options and incorporate them into sentencing.
You can do this with the police department mobile app tip button. No sender information is stored and we have no idea who you are. You can also leave recorded information by dialing 473-5248. This goes directly to my voicemail and you do not have to leave your information. You can also speak to us which is the best way as we may need further information. You can request to remain confidential. We do not identify you in investigative files and only disclose your identify when ordered by a court. While this can happen, it has not happened in my 25 year police career because of the way we handle these types of investigation.
Why get involved? There is rebounding effects that hit us all. First and most importantly we may lose a valued member of our community to a drug death. The hurt and absence will continue for a long time.
Secondly, as the epidemic increases in our community, you will see an increase in thefts and burglaries. It takes money to buy narcotics and most times folks get into situations where they can no longer afford their supply and resort to stealing to support it.
Ridding the problem requires a community response. This is a problem that we can't and won't end on our own. It involves budgetary support. It costs money and time to tackle these problems. Last year our investigative funding budget was cut in half. That ties our hands as it limits the funds we need to tackle the problem.
Be a good neighbor and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Suspicious activity can be cars stopping and leaving in short periods of time at all hours of the day and night. It can also be someone looking for an unlocked car or a house to break into.
Lastly if you have no clue what drugs look like or what to watch for signs and symptoms, reach out to us. If there is a community need, we will bring in experts and put on a community event that will show you what they look like and give you resources of where to reach out.
Our social media has been in place for about two years now. I have seen it work very well reaching and empowering our community. I hope that you will read this blog and take it seriously. I hope that you will watch and listen and take the problem seriously. I hope that as a community we can pull together and watch and slow the deadly effects of this problem. The life that you help save may be a parent, brother, sister or loved one. Living in a glass bubble and refusing to recognize the problem will only result in loss. Thanks in advance for being part of the solution!
Heroin abuse has been identified as a top public safety priority in NH. It knows no boundaries. It does not just effect the poor. It is not just a city problem and has reached our community and that of our neighbors.
It can effect the young, the old, the rich, the poor. It can reach our own families.
At last town meeting when I spoke about the heroin problem, someone off in the sidelines made the comment, there is no heroin in Middleton. During the last two years, I responded to three medical calls where the victim would have died if not for immediate life saving intervention by the police department along with our Emergency Medical Responders. Most recently I met a high school senior who is an A, B student who overdosed on Heroin.
Our first priority is for the protection of Life. From this standpoint, EMS has trained personnel and carry Narcan on the ambulance. This powerful drug reverses the deadly effects of heroin on the patient. It does not work in all patients but gives us a fighting chance. Normally in a heroin overdose, respiration (breathing) stops. When a person does not breath, the heart stops in a short amount of time and the person dies. The quicker we can get Narcan into a patient, the higher the chances a life can be saved.
From an enforcement state, the police has a zero tolerance in the use of illegal drugs. We will continue to enforce our laws with the help of our Federal, State and County law enforcement partners to enforce the current laws.
We have joined the ONE VOICE Group who mission is to provide treatment and scientifically strategies to communities to deal with Substance Abuse Problems.
In support of the Regional Network System, Regional Leadership Teams are in service to their communities by:
- Meeting regularly to provide leadership and guidance in prevention and health promotion initiatives within the region
- Encouraging shared knowledge, resources, and capacities to support prevention and health promotion
- Determining service and capacity gaps
- Endorsing community priorities and resource allocation
- Assigning a chairperson each year to participate in state level meetings and trainings as available and serve as a primary point of contact
We strongly encourage our community members to reach out to us in a few ways to help us rid this problem from our community.
First and foremost, if you have a family member of friend who is addicted, reach out to us. There is treatment services available. We will help you by pointing you in that direction. Unfortunately treatment is only an option if the person with the addiction problem wants help.
The second option and a tough decision to make is report substance abuse to the police. Our correction system is such that they identify substance abuse options and incorporate them into sentencing.
You can do this with the police department mobile app tip button. No sender information is stored and we have no idea who you are. You can also leave recorded information by dialing 473-5248. This goes directly to my voicemail and you do not have to leave your information. You can also speak to us which is the best way as we may need further information. You can request to remain confidential. We do not identify you in investigative files and only disclose your identify when ordered by a court. While this can happen, it has not happened in my 25 year police career because of the way we handle these types of investigation.
Why get involved? There is rebounding effects that hit us all. First and most importantly we may lose a valued member of our community to a drug death. The hurt and absence will continue for a long time.
Secondly, as the epidemic increases in our community, you will see an increase in thefts and burglaries. It takes money to buy narcotics and most times folks get into situations where they can no longer afford their supply and resort to stealing to support it.
Ridding the problem requires a community response. This is a problem that we can't and won't end on our own. It involves budgetary support. It costs money and time to tackle these problems. Last year our investigative funding budget was cut in half. That ties our hands as it limits the funds we need to tackle the problem.
Be a good neighbor and report suspicious activity in your neighborhood. Suspicious activity can be cars stopping and leaving in short periods of time at all hours of the day and night. It can also be someone looking for an unlocked car or a house to break into.
Lastly if you have no clue what drugs look like or what to watch for signs and symptoms, reach out to us. If there is a community need, we will bring in experts and put on a community event that will show you what they look like and give you resources of where to reach out.
Our social media has been in place for about two years now. I have seen it work very well reaching and empowering our community. I hope that you will read this blog and take it seriously. I hope that you will watch and listen and take the problem seriously. I hope that as a community we can pull together and watch and slow the deadly effects of this problem. The life that you help save may be a parent, brother, sister or loved one. Living in a glass bubble and refusing to recognize the problem will only result in loss. Thanks in advance for being part of the solution!
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