A community drug summit scheduled for Thursday night is expected to go beyond discussions of arrests and unearth the resources available for those fighting addiction and family members trying to help them.
Countywide, since January 1, there have been 54 overdose calls
Hasty said the police department is waiting on the return of three autopsy reports to determine whether the causes of death were drug-related.
(A flyer outlining the program is attached as a PDF at the end of this story)
Since December 15 of last year, Halifax EMS has used Narcan 51 times to revive overdose victims and the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department has used it six times.
The police department, Hasty said, is still waiting to get the drug.
One of the big issues facing the community is heroin, Hasty said. “Heroin is making a big comeback.”
That comes in part with a crackdown on prescription medication when its abuse was at a peak. “We still have crack,” he said. “It's becoming more prevalent.”
Within the last two months, Hasty has issued shift lieutenants a community resource guide.
The 30-page guide, which is also in Spanish, not only goes into detail on mental health and substance abuse programs available, but addresses housing programs and programs for veterans.
The city supports the efforts of its police department in holding the summit, City Manager Joseph Scherer said.
At the last city council meeting, Scherer said, “Drug addiction, in all its forms, is the biggest problem our city and county face on a daily basis. The crimes committed every day, whether it's robbery, car theft or break-ins, shootings, prostitution … can be directly attributable to illegal drugs or prescription drug abuse in some form or fashion.”
The simple aim of the summit, Hasty said, is to let people know, “There's help there for the addicts if they want help.”
Lieutenant Andy Bryant, who has been instrumental in planning the summit, said a host of mental health service providers as well those involved in drug treatment will be on hand.
A family member of a recovering addict and a recovered addict will also speak.
“It's to facilitate a community trust and partnership to reduce overdose injuries and deaths as well as promoting a variety of assistance programs to those affected by drug abuse,” Bryant said in a recent interview.
While enforcement remains a part of the overall attack on the drug problem, Bryant said, “Obviously, we would be trying, in diminishing these crimes, wanting to free those encumbered by drug abuse to get them relief and help which reduces criminal proceedings.”
Bryant said the summit is for the community as a whole. “We want the community's help in reducing drug abuse injuries or death. It's not about enforcement, it's about helping the community and not an enforcement Band-Aid.”