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12-02-2006, 01:20 PM
Greene drug problem discussed
By Angie Oravec , Herald-Standard
Nemacolin. Crucible. Greensboro. Carmichaels. Bobtown. Jefferson.
These small Greene County riverside towns are places one wouldn't think would be hotspots for drug abuse.
But, according to Greene County's chief detective, Fran Suppok, these little villages have fostered a growth in drug activity much worse than nearly a decade ago when he worked as a state trooper and the drug problem in Greene County was focused mostly on marijuana.
Suppok, Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox and Sgt. Craig Miller of the Cumberland Township Police spoke at a public forum held recently in the Carmichaels Area High School Auditorium.
Made possible through a partnership among the Carmichaels Area School District, the Greene County Drug Task Force, local police departments and the county District Attorney's office, the forum garnered many questions from approximately 125 residents who attended.
Superintendent of the Carmichaels Area School District, Craig Baily, said Suppok called him six weeks ago to ask if he realized how severe of drug abuse problem there is within the district.
"It's here and a major problem within this area," said Suppok, who has served as Greene County detective for four years. "It seems to be concentrated along the river towns."
Suppok said the biggest problem is heroin, but youth illegally taking prescription medication and smoking crack cocaine is also a problem. Miller, a member of the Greene County Task Force, said youth in their teens to their early twenties are using the drugs.
The school district, said Baily, has a discipline policy that has been in place for four or five years that leads to the expulsion of a student for drug abuse and requires evidence from the student that the drug problem has been addressed before the student is reissued into the school system.
He noted 12 students were expelled over the last four years because of drug abuse.
"We have to stop it for the kids," said Suppok. "The peer pressure (to use drugs) is great in schools."
Miller said there have been one to two dozen overdoses on the cough and cold medication Coricidin in the last two months. Youth take 10 to 20 of the pills at one time and combine it with other drugs.
The youngest individual who died from an overdose was 14 years old, said Miller, while the oldest was 25 or 26 years of age.
District Attorney Marjorie Fox said the problem isn't limited to children of broken homes or of a certain income group, but drug use can happen to anyone's child.
Fox said while there is no one answer to solving the problem, the community must help to stop the demand for drugs and the recognition starts in the home.
"It's a community problem," she said. "It's a multi-faceted solution that starts with recognition in the home - recognizing that it could be your kid."
Fox said the community must stop the demand for drugs. She urged parents to become aware of their child's activities, to know where they are going and who their friends are.
"Look for the warning signs of drug abuse in your own home," she said. "As long as a profit is available, we have people who will drive here from Pittsburgh to score dope because there's a money motive. The interstate is a heroin highway. Drug activity in New York and Detroit filter down to here.
"There's not one answer," she added, "but the drug task force has come a long way from what I can see."
Suppok said a parent should become suspicious of drug usage in their home if certain items many would not think could be related to drugs are found.
Shown to the audience were pictures of drug paraphernalia confiscated from Cumberland Township. Items included various pipes used to smoke marijuana, a container to holds laughing gas, a homemade crack pipe made from aluminum foil, a digital scale used to weigh drugs and Fentanyl patches used by cancer patients that can lead to a high when injected or sucked.
Also shown was a picture of a can of Endust, a substance used to blow off keyboards that allows youth to get high off the refrigerant it contains, and cornstarch used to cut cocaine.
Miller said parents should look for the small, red pills or the "blister package" that Coricidin comes in, noting these packages have been found lying empty on the street and in parking lots. He said youth are stealing the over-the-counter medication from drugstores, prompting pharmacies to place the medication out of reach behind the counter.
Fox said the drug task force relies on tips from the community. Residents can report suspected drug activity by calling local police departments, the county sheriff's office or the district attorney's office drug hotline at 724-627-5391.
For information on how to help someone with a drug problem, call Greene County Drug and Alcohol Services at 724-852-5276.
http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cf...id=480247&rfi=6 (http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17539877&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6)
By Angie Oravec , Herald-Standard
Nemacolin. Crucible. Greensboro. Carmichaels. Bobtown. Jefferson.
These small Greene County riverside towns are places one wouldn't think would be hotspots for drug abuse.
But, according to Greene County's chief detective, Fran Suppok, these little villages have fostered a growth in drug activity much worse than nearly a decade ago when he worked as a state trooper and the drug problem in Greene County was focused mostly on marijuana.
Suppok, Greene County District Attorney Marjorie Fox and Sgt. Craig Miller of the Cumberland Township Police spoke at a public forum held recently in the Carmichaels Area High School Auditorium.
Made possible through a partnership among the Carmichaels Area School District, the Greene County Drug Task Force, local police departments and the county District Attorney's office, the forum garnered many questions from approximately 125 residents who attended.
Superintendent of the Carmichaels Area School District, Craig Baily, said Suppok called him six weeks ago to ask if he realized how severe of drug abuse problem there is within the district.
"It's here and a major problem within this area," said Suppok, who has served as Greene County detective for four years. "It seems to be concentrated along the river towns."
Suppok said the biggest problem is heroin, but youth illegally taking prescription medication and smoking crack cocaine is also a problem. Miller, a member of the Greene County Task Force, said youth in their teens to their early twenties are using the drugs.
The school district, said Baily, has a discipline policy that has been in place for four or five years that leads to the expulsion of a student for drug abuse and requires evidence from the student that the drug problem has been addressed before the student is reissued into the school system.
He noted 12 students were expelled over the last four years because of drug abuse.
"We have to stop it for the kids," said Suppok. "The peer pressure (to use drugs) is great in schools."
Miller said there have been one to two dozen overdoses on the cough and cold medication Coricidin in the last two months. Youth take 10 to 20 of the pills at one time and combine it with other drugs.
The youngest individual who died from an overdose was 14 years old, said Miller, while the oldest was 25 or 26 years of age.
District Attorney Marjorie Fox said the problem isn't limited to children of broken homes or of a certain income group, but drug use can happen to anyone's child.
Fox said while there is no one answer to solving the problem, the community must help to stop the demand for drugs and the recognition starts in the home.
"It's a community problem," she said. "It's a multi-faceted solution that starts with recognition in the home - recognizing that it could be your kid."
Fox said the community must stop the demand for drugs. She urged parents to become aware of their child's activities, to know where they are going and who their friends are.
"Look for the warning signs of drug abuse in your own home," she said. "As long as a profit is available, we have people who will drive here from Pittsburgh to score dope because there's a money motive. The interstate is a heroin highway. Drug activity in New York and Detroit filter down to here.
"There's not one answer," she added, "but the drug task force has come a long way from what I can see."
Suppok said a parent should become suspicious of drug usage in their home if certain items many would not think could be related to drugs are found.
Shown to the audience were pictures of drug paraphernalia confiscated from Cumberland Township. Items included various pipes used to smoke marijuana, a container to holds laughing gas, a homemade crack pipe made from aluminum foil, a digital scale used to weigh drugs and Fentanyl patches used by cancer patients that can lead to a high when injected or sucked.
Also shown was a picture of a can of Endust, a substance used to blow off keyboards that allows youth to get high off the refrigerant it contains, and cornstarch used to cut cocaine.
Miller said parents should look for the small, red pills or the "blister package" that Coricidin comes in, noting these packages have been found lying empty on the street and in parking lots. He said youth are stealing the over-the-counter medication from drugstores, prompting pharmacies to place the medication out of reach behind the counter.
Fox said the drug task force relies on tips from the community. Residents can report suspected drug activity by calling local police departments, the county sheriff's office or the district attorney's office drug hotline at 724-627-5391.
For information on how to help someone with a drug problem, call Greene County Drug and Alcohol Services at 724-852-5276.
http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cf...id=480247&rfi=6 (http://www.heraldstandard.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=17539877&BRD=2280&PAG=461&dept_id=480247&rfi=6)