DRUG EPIDEMIC PLAGUES AREA

Heroin Use Rises Sharply; Pales In Comparison To Cocaine, Major
Factor In Jail Overcrowding

The Rockford area is in the midst of a heroin epidemic "that has
evolved recently and rapidly," according to Kathleen Kane-Willis,
Roosevelt University researcher at the Institute for Metropolitan Affairs.

However, although The Rock River Times research supports Kane-Willis'
conclusion about the Rockford area's heroin epidemic, cocaine is a
much larger problem.

In addition, planners for the county's proposed $93-$130 million, 900-
to 1,500-bed jail and alternative treatment programs acknowledge the
scope of the drug problem has filled the jail with drug users and
property crime offenders who steal to support their habits.

Jail tax

Of the estimated $23.1 million the jail tax is expected to generate
annually, about 9 percent, or $2.1 million, of the jail tax is slated
for jail alternatives and crime prevention. Specifically, $1 million
is slated for programs in the jail, and $1.1 million is for
community-based programs.

Building, staffing and maintaining the new jail is allotted $9.7
million, or 42.8 percent, of the expected $23.1 million; banks that
facilitate selling the jail construction bonds may receive about $8.3
million, or 36.1 percent; and hiring more criminal justice system
workers may receive $3 million, or 13 percent, of the jail tax money,
according to Steve Chapman, county administrator.

Drugs by the numbers

Dominic Iasparro, Rockford Police Department deputy chief, estimated
that more than 75 percent of the crimes police deal with are related
to drug trafficking, from violent crime to property crime. Iasparro
echoed statistics by saying police have seen "a lot more heroin,
especially in the last few months." However, Iasparro said cocaine,
especially crack cocaine, remains the area's "No. 1 drug problem."

Using Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority (ICJIA) data,
The Rock River Times research indicates heroin treatment admissions to
area drug treatment centers increased from 90 in 1994 to 435 in
2002--an increase of 383 percent. Kane-Willis used similar data and
found admissions jumped from 37 in 1992 to 429 in 2000--an increase of
1,059 percent.

Kane-Willis emphasized that Rockford is facing a serious problem
because of the alarming rise in numbers among the very young and older
users. Kane-Willis said the youngest users, age 20 and younger,
represent "the largest and absolute numbers as well as the largest
percent increases." In addition, users older than 40 years "became
initiated to heroin during the 1970s, and this group had the second
highest increases."

Although increased heroin use may be a barometer for future crime
rates, cocaine treatment numbers were nearly triple heroin treatment
numbers in 2002 in Winnebago County. Cocaine admission numbers
increased from 1,006 in 1994 to 1,268--a 26 percent increase. Also,
cocaine admission rates in the county are twice the state average (see
graphs).

Meeting comments

Frank Ware, executive director of Janet Wattles Mental Health Center
and former chairman for the committee examining jail alternatives and
crime prevention, said Jan. 29 his committee members were "very moved"
by the "numbers of people" in jail and "constants" among inmates. Ware
described the constants as unemployment, lack of education, substance
abuse and mental illness.

Ware's comments about inmates with substance abuse problems were
echoed by Dr. Barry Spiegel, vice president of Medical Services and
medical director of Rosecrance Health Network. Spiegel said "drug and
alcohol abuse and addiction are implicated in crimes and incarceration
of 80 percent of the men and women behind bars nationwide."

Review team

Greg Tuite, a local attorney and chairman of the review team that will
recommend which agencies will be eligible to provide services to
inmates, said they received 20 applications for the $1.1 million in
grants in mid-March.

Tuite said the review team will be recommending agencies that can
provide services for health care, family counseling, GED training, job
training, mental health, and substance abuse.

Tuite expects the recommendations will be made soon to enable those
selected to prepare for action beginning in July. As to the small
amount allocated for the services, Tuite said his team and committee
have to work with the amount they were assigned.

However, Winnebago County Board member Jim Hughes (D-11) appeared to
express most participants' sentiments at the Jan. 29 jail alternatives
meeting at Memorial Hall when Hughes said: "It's been my position all
along--I think we're spending way too much money on a jail and not
enough on alternative programs. ...

"I encourage you to ask the county board for more money. I'll be there
to support more money because the only way we're going to solve this
problem in our community is with alternative programs and not filling
up our jail cells," Hughes said.