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An Epidemic
• Epidemic – “an outbreak of a disease that spreads more quickly and more extensively than would normally be expected.”
• Drug abuse has become an epidemic in our community.
Dearborn County Statistics
• Crime is up 500% since the early 90’s.
• When I first started rarely saw a heroin case.
• Now it is a frequent occurrence.
• 3000 people on probation in Dearborn County
• File over 100 probation violations a month
– 75% are for testing positive for drugs
– 25% are positive for opiates
Drug Addiction Does Not Discriminate
• It can strike anybody regardless of race, sex or socioeconomic status.
• East Central has a huge problem.
• Heroin has become the drug of choice among our youth.
• Overdose deaths have become a regular occurrence for our youth and young adults.
Results of Drug Addiction
• “Trouble chases sinners . . .” Proverbs 13:21
• Death
• Jail
• Living with a drug addiction
• Only a few of the lucky ones recover –
– It takes 40 years for the Opiate addict’s brain chemistry to return to normal!
Heroin = Poison
• Recovered over 3 kilos of Heroin on I-74.
• $500,000 worth of Heroin.
• Heroin was traveling from Chicago to Cincinnati.
• Sold to residents of Indiana.
• Mule was making trip weekly.
• In Covington, DEA recovered
30 pounds that is almost 14 kilos.
Over $2 million dollars of heroin.
The Road to Addiction
• As a parent you need to understand the road to addiction for our youth.
• It starts with decisions that are made at middle school or earlier.
Alcohol
• “[T]hose led astray by drink cannot be wise.” Proverbs 20:1
• If you start drinking at age 12 you have a 50% chance of having a substance abuse problem.
• More than 67% of young people who start drinking before the age of 15 will try an illicit drug.
• Alcohol use at a young age will essentially reprogram a brain to become substance abuse dependent.
Marijuana THE ULTIMATE GATEWAY DRUG!
• Contains 4-5 times more cancer-causing compounds than tobacco
• Often mixed with other substances • Average THC level in late 1970s= >1% Average THC level 2007= <9% • Unlike what you may have heard- IT IS ADDICTIVE
• Changes in brain to Dopamine receptors/ • Tolerance develops w/ time and heavy use • Causes compulsive craving even in the face of
negative consequences • Most drug addicts start out using marijuana.
Marijuana
• No one ever thinks they are going to be a heroin addict.
• The lack of a stigma to marijuana use has resulted in an increase in drug abuse for the first time since the 1980’s and has been on the rise since 2010.
• The more it is decriminalized the greater the substance abuse problem will become.
Prescription Drugs
• They are perceived by children as safe.
• At first they are easy to get.
• They are as addictive and dangerous as street drugs.
• Eventually cost of maintaining addiction leads to heroin use. Which is cheap and easily obtainable in Cincinnati.
Heroin
Movie
What Can We Do as Parents
• Set a good example.
– “Direct your children onto the right path and when they are older they will not leave it.” Proverbs 22:1
– As parents we must set the standard. We cannot say “do as I say not as I do.”
– We must show them the right path.
• “The path of the virtuous leads away from evil, whoever follows that path is safe.” Proverbs 16:17
What Can We Do as Parents
• Set rules clearly. – “ [T]hose who love their children care enough to
discipline them.” Proverbs 22:1
– It is important to set clear rules with clear consequences.
– You can’t say it is ok to drink in my home and then get mad when they drink and do drugs. Your rules are vague and unclear when you do this. Plus it is illegal.
• Be consistent.
• Be their parent not their “buddy”.
What Can We Do as Parents
• Educate yourself about drug and alcohol abuse. – We have given you lots of information but there is a
wealth of information on the Partnership for a Drug Free America’s website – www.drugfree.org
• Talk to your children early and often about drugs and alcohol and your expectations. – Tell them you don’t want them to do it because you
love them. Studies show this simple step works.
– Again the www.drugfree.org website has information on how to talk to your children about drugs at every age level.
What Can We Do as Parents
• Keep prescription drugs in a secure location or know how many pills are in the container so you know if any are missing.
• Properly dispose of unused prescription drugs.
• Provide for supervision after school or involve them in after school activities. This can be a dangerous time.
• Divulge family history.
What Can We Do as Parents
• Know everyone in your child’s life.
– Friends, Parents of Friends, Siblings of Friends, etc.
– Demand access to social media sites and text messages. They have no right to privacy.
– “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffer harm.” Proverbs 13:20
What Can We Do as Parents
• Preventative Drug Testing – Not for children you suspect already have a problem.
They need counseling. – This will stop them from experimenting. – Marijuana is easily detected by tests and is the
gateway drug. They are unlikely to start with stronger drugs.
– Gives them an out when they are in a peer pressure situation.
– Drug addicts will tell you that early drug testing would have prevented them from experimenting.
– IT COULD SAVE YOUR CHILD”S LIFE!
Preventative Drug Testing
• Drug tests are available tonight for free.
• Courtesy of CASA
– Citizens Against Substance Abuse
• Additional drug tests will be available at the Dearborn-Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office for a free will donation to CASA, which will be used to buy more tests.
What Can We Do as the Faith Based Community
• We have a duty have Christians to fight this problem – it not only destroys lives - it will take a person’s soul.
• Raise awareness – spread the word. • Talk about it with coworkers, friends and any groups that
you belong. • Use social media to spread the word. • Encourage and support faith-based addiction recovery
groups and those suffering from addiction. • The most effective addiction recovery programs are faith
based. There is a reason for that . . .
• “With God all things are possible” Matthew 19:26
Aaron Negangard
Prosecutor for Dearborn and Ohio County
812-584-5995
anegangard@dearbornohioprosecutor.com
Thank You For Your Time
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