Oct 9, 2015 3 min read

WAYNESBURG – A panel discussed heroin and prescription pill abuse in Greene County Thursday evening in an attempt to educate the community about the growing problem, even if there are no easy answers.

Hundreds packed the main courtroom of Greene County Courthouse to learn about the history of the problem, how drug abuse is impacting the county, what to look for and where they can turn for help.

Greene County Probation Director Craig Wise said cocaine and alcohol abuse were prevalent in the 1980s, but that changed in 2005 when his office saw an increase in heroin use. Wise said 90 percent of the people he sees have drug, alcohol or mental health problems.

“They come in wanting me to have the answer,” Wise said. “It’s like I had a recipe for the cure, but that’s not the case.”

Michael Cipioletti, assistant professor of forensic science at Waynesburg University, said in recent years dealers hired chemists to create a cheaper and easier form of heroin for consumers to use. Cipioletti said most heroin users start by using prescribed pain medication, then resort to heroin after the prescription runs out.

State police Sgt. Steve Dowlin said a stamp bag of heroin in Greene County sells between $15 and $20, which is higher than the $8 national average because of transportation costs. Dowlin added he has seen an increase in thefts, burglaries and robberies in the county, which coincides with addiction.

“They resort to criminal activity to feed that addiction,” Dowlin said. “They don’t really think they will escape with enough money to go to an island or something. They get enough for their addictions.”

All of the speakers agreed prevention is easier than treatment.

“Prevention starts with education,” Cipioletti said.

He presented a slideshow, showing commonly abused prescription drugs. Cipioletti also showed how heroin looks when it’s mixed with fentanyl.

Fayette County Supervising Detective Steven Contaxes said readily available pills are given too much social acceptance.

“Prescription drugs are often overused,” Contaxes said. “We have come to believe that the answer to our problems lies in a pill.”

The danger with heroin is how easily people become addicted, Wise said.

“Many dealers will give the first bag for free because they know they now have a customer for life,” Wise said.

The Rev. Cathy Carpenter of Westsides in Waynesburg said she believes heroin abuse is more of a “sin problem” and families need to be open and honest.

Every speaker emphasized the need of parents talking to their children about addiction.

“This is not a linear problem that we can just push off to a committee to solve,” said Jeff Wilson, a member of Greene County’s forensic re-entry program. “What I see is hope here with all of you and all of us coming together.”

Treatment centers and treatment options in Greene County also were discussed.

Many on the panel acknowledged there is no set plan to address the problem, but it’s bringing people together to start working on a solution. Future meetings and workshops are expected to take place.

Gary Tennis, state Secretary of the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs, was unable to attend because of a ban on travel during the state budget impasse.