LET DRUG DEATH BE A LESSON ON DANGERS OF HEROIN

Re: Heroin kills man in treatment, Aug. 12

The unfortunate death of Aaron Kononitz from a heroin overdose while a
resident in the Operation PAR treatment program will not be in vain if
we use this event to reflect upon the problem of drug abuse in our
community and to educate young people about the dangers of heroin.

A significant number of first-time heroin users become lifetime
addicts and die of overdose or other complications from illegal drug
use. A significant number of heroin addicts are never cured of their
addiction even though they may be sober or drug-free for an extended
time. I have firsthand knowledge of this because I had a brother who
lost a 25-year battle with heroin addiction and died of an overdose
four years ago in Seattle. My family supported him emotionally and
worked with some of the best drug treatment programs in Minneapolis,
Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle over that 25-year period during
which he had several extended periods of sobriety and productivity.
However, in the end he died of a heroin overdose. He never could free
himself from the addiction that quickly developed from using heroin in
high school a couple of times.

Here in Pinellas County we are very fortunate to have such a
first-rate drug treatment program such as Operation PAR. I do not
believe that the recent overdose death at Operation Par should be seen
as a failure of that program. I have had the opportunity to work
closely with many of the officers and staff of operation PAR under a
contract funded by the Pinellas Juvenile Welfare Board to improve the
administration of Alpha, A Beginning, Inc., a residential program for
homeless pregnant women in St. Petersburg. I have been favorably
impressed with the dedication and professionalism of the Operation PAR
staff.

Furthermore, based upon my experience in seeking treatment for my
brother from other drug programs in other cities, I believe Operation
PAR is first rate. My brother never lived in Pinellas and never was
involved with PAR. Treatment of heroin addiction is a complex and
difficult task. The fact that all treatment programs have addicts who
die of an overdose during or after treatment should bring home the
importance of education and prevention of drug abuse.

Joseph Saunders board certified civil trial lawyer Pinellas
Park