THE HORRORS OF HEROIN

A packed gymnasium of educators, police officers, clergy, parents and
others took the first significant step together last week in battling the
escalating toll of heroin, Oxycontin and other opiates on Essex County.

The gathering, arranged by District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett and Essex
County Sheriff Frank Cousins, was the first of many public dialogues
expected about dangerously addictive drugs that have killed dozens and
hospitalized many more across the region in recent years.

"It truly is a horrific epidemic and a community problem," Blodgett said.
"This is a fight we can not afford to lose. If we don't all work together,
the fight will be that much harder."

Lynn firefighter Timothy Lawrence, who lost his daughter Kathleen to a
heroin overdose in 2003, said he learned first-hand that parents often have
trouble confronting drug use when it is by their own kid.

Before her death, he told Kathleen that it was not good for her to be at
the parties she attended.

"A lot of times it was in good families' houses," Lawrence recalled.

Soon, the signs of opiate use surfaced.

"We become blind when it is our own kids," he said. "Other people can see
it in our kids, but for some reason we can't see it in our own kids."

He encouraged parents to have conversations with their children and not to
be afraid to be a parent.

Five years ago, Essex County became one of 13 New England counties
designated as High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas by the Office of
National Drug Control Policy.

Since taking office, Blodgett has made it a priority to reiterate to local
media, parents and educators the dangers of opiates. Until recently, most
remained unalarmed and unconcerned.

Then came Jeff Allison, of Peabody, a first-round draft pick of the Florida
Marlins bound for stardom as a top-notch pitcher. But he showed up late for
spring training last year, and later that summer was rushed to a Lynn
hospital after a heroin overdose. His story started to get attention, and
before long other prominent, and otherwise typical North Shore youngsters,
including the son of a school superintendent and football coach's son, were
revealed as addicts. It wasn't just a back-alley drug anymore.

"For every Jeff Allison, there are a thousand kids like him," said Lynn
Police Officer Larry Wentzell, who works in the schools. "It isn't just
about criminals and homeless people."

Sooner or later, many addicts do show up in jail, said the panelists who
spoke to the 500 people who packed a Merrimack College gym.

Cousins said 70 percent of the 1,600 inmates at the Essex County
Correctional Facility in Middleton are drug users. Of those, the drug of
choice is heroin, he said.

"Today's Oxycontin defendant is tomorrow's heroin addict," said Marsha
Kazarosian, a defense attorney who often represents drug users. "Help is
important early on."

Why Here? Why Now?

Heroin has rattled the region for several reasons, said George Festa,
director of the High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area. It has high purity,
low prices and effective marketing techniques.

Like Lawrence, members of the panel never suggested they had the answer to
stop opiate use and abuse, but instead drew on their knowledge and
experience to share with others ideas about how to take it on.

"We have never had more tools in our collective tool box to address this
problem," said Dr. Stephen Valle, president of Adcare Criminal Justice of
Taunton and Worcester.

Like others, Wentzell said making children aware of the dangerous and
addictive nature of opiates is the most important step.

"Drug education is the key to making any difference on this issue," he said.

And when users graduate from snorting the drug to injecting it, said the
Rev. Rodney Hart, a recovered addict himself, the risk of getting HIV from
the needle is no deterrent.

"The power of that drug is something that captures you," said Hart,
director of New England Teen Challenge, a local chapter of a national drug
rehab program.

When a heroin user is addicted, getting locked up in jail often becomes the
point where they turn for help, he said.

"Opiate addiction is not a choice, it is a lifestyle," said Wentzell.

Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey of Beverly, who also spoke at the conference, said
the state's heroin epidemic became clear to her last summer after a series
of meetings with local leaders.

"I think this is an intensely local and grassroots issue," she said, vowing
to increase funding to drug treatment programs.

For more information or for help finding an addiction treatment program,
the Essex DA and Essex County Sheriff's Department offered the following
online resources:

. www.mass.gov/dph/bsas

. www.jointogether.org

. www.findtreatment.samhsa.gov

. www.drugrehabresources.com

To contact the office of Essex District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett, call
978-745-6610; for Essex County Sheriff Frank Cousins, call 978-750-1900.