During the past several months there have been an increasing number of heroin overdoses by Calvert County citizens. Several of the overdose victims have been found deceased in surrounding counties. Due to privacy restrictions of medical records, it is extremely difficult to provide an exact number and the locations of the overdoses.
There appears to be a common theme in the majority of these cases when speaking with friends and family members of the deceased. The stories generally start out that the deceased began using pills, either ingesting them orally or snorting them. The users then start injecting the pills intravenously. In an effort to achieve the same high they had previously reached, the users search for stronger pills and/or more of them. It then becomes impossible for them to afford the habit and more difficult to obtain prescription medications, so they switch to a cheaper alternative which is heroin. By the time the users reach this level, they typically cannot hold onto a job and become involved in other illegal activities to help support their habits. Eventually the users reach dangerously high levels of impairment from continuous use of the heroin which causes them to overdose on the drug. The users become sick if they do not keep the heroin in their system, making it extremely difficult for them to “clean” themselves up. The more a person uses, the higher their odds are of getting a “hot shot” which is heroin that has not been cut enough or cut with a lethal substance which can ultimately cause death.
Daily, uniformed deputies and investigators with the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office make controlled dangerous substance related arrests, both small and large scale, with the goal of ridding Calvert County of drug sellers and users, and the associated crimes they commit, and most importantly preventing more unnecessary deaths of its citizens. The majority of the arrests made are the result of traffic violation enforcement. In addition to the enforcement is an educational/public awareness perspective. There are numerous educational and support group programs available in Calvert County. This information can be obtained through the Calvert Alliance Against Substance Abuse (CAASA) 410-535-FREE (3733) www.co.cal.md.us/CAASA. CAASA can provide families and friends with helpful resource information and links to support groups and programs in Calvert County. If you are seeking treatment services, call Calvert Substance Abuse Services at 410-535-3079.
We encourage parents to speak with their children about the dangers of alcohol and other drug abuse, as well as the importance of making good decisions. CAASA and the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office are doing their part to render assistance with combating this drug issue. Please contact either, or both for any help you may need.
