Community Council holds roundtable on substance abuse

PARKERSBURG -- The Community Service Council Tuesday held a roundtable of law enforcement officials and first responders to address the issue of substance abuse in the Mid-Ohio Valley.

The event was part of the council's monthly meeting, which brings together members of the non-profit and service organization community.

"We're trying to evolve this from a networking organization into a public service organization," said council President John Jackson.

One of the greatest issues facing the Mid-Ohio Valley, he said, is that of substance abuse and its devastating impact on communities. The roundtable featured Wood County Sheriff Steve Stephens, Wood County E911 Director Rick Woodyard, Sgt. Mike Stalnaker of the Parkersburg Police Department detective bureau and Eric Criss, a paramedic with the West Virginia Medical Coordination Center.

"I think that (drug abuse) is what affects your community more than anything," Stalnaker said.

Criss said the surge of overdoses as well as the violence of drug dealers has caused first responders to change tactics, and not always for the best.

"The world is a lot more violent today," he said. Paramedics "don't go in any more until law enforcement arrives and says that scene is safe for us. If you see us just sitting in the truck, waiting, we're waiting on law enforcement because we don't know what is waiting for us inside that house."

Criss said first responders may also deal with addicts who become violent after being administered Narcan, which both saves them from overdose and removes the high of the drug.

"A lot of times, when people wake up, they're mad," he said. "They paid for that high, and they come up swinging."

Criss said there is a toll on paramedics who may have to deal with the same people overdosing multiple times.

"It plays on your mind," he said.

It also pulls valuable resources away from the community, making it more difficult for residents to get timely help from EMS and longer waits at emergency rooms. Drug overdoses and drug-related crimes also stretch law enforcement resources and crowd jails and prisons.

"It's taxing the system," Woodyard said. "It's everybody's problem. It's not just the people up here, it's everyone's problem."

Stephens said there does appear to be evidence some efforts to inform the public and reduce drug use are having an effect. In January, officials responded to 90 overdoses. Since then the number has dropped to a monthly average of less than 30, with only 17 overdoses being reported in July and this month only three have been reported through the 911 center, he said.

"It's bad, but the doom and gloom we had some months ago has lightened up," Stephens said.

However, he warned while officers are seeing some decline in heroin use, meth is enjoying a resurgence.

"Heroin is getting the most publicity, but meth is making a royal comeback," Stephens said. The new meth is more potent and often causes a violent response in users.

"That is one of a law enforcement officer's biggest fears, fighting someone who is high on meth," he said.

While the heroin epidemic has led to a spike in theft to pay for the habit, Woodyard warned the increased use of meth also will result in a rise in violent crimes.

Stephens said members of the public can help law enforcement by more quickly reporting suspicious behavior, being more observant of unusual activity in their neighborhoods, giving information promptly to law enforcement, and showing up for jury duty. People not showing up when summoned for jury duty has become an increasing issue and waste of time and resources for police as cases get delayed due to a lack of jurors.