Prescription Drug & Prescription Drug & Opiate Abuse by YouthOpiate Abuse by Youth

Lt. George T. Rouhib Jr.Lt. George T. Rouhib Jr.Fraser Department of Public SafetyFraser Department of Public Safety

September 16, 2010September 16, 2010

PastPast

Kids were experimenting with marijuana, Kids were experimenting with marijuana, alcohol, inhalants, and tobacco products. alcohol, inhalants, and tobacco products.

There was a stigma regarding heroin use. There was a stigma regarding heroin use. Deaths involving drug overdoses were Deaths involving drug overdoses were

limited. limited.

PresentPresent

Today, prescription drugs are part of our Today, prescription drugs are part of our society. society.

Because of this, our youth are more Because of this, our youth are more exposed to pills and are not afraid to exposed to pills and are not afraid to experiment. It is accepted behavior. experiment. It is accepted behavior.

Many start abusing their own medications Many start abusing their own medications including Ritalin, Adderall, and other including Ritalin, Adderall, and other prescribed drugs. prescribed drugs.

Peer pressure has increased-Risk taking-Peer pressure has increased-Risk taking-fearless. fearless.

Snorting PillsSnorting Pills Many children suffer from depression and Many children suffer from depression and

low self esteem that results in drug use. low self esteem that results in drug use. The most common prescription drugs that The most common prescription drugs that

are being abused are Vicodin, Oxycontin, are being abused are Vicodin, Oxycontin, Lortab, Suboxone, and Xanax. Lortab, Suboxone, and Xanax.

PresentPresent

HeroinHeroin

The use of prescription drugs that are opiate The use of prescription drugs that are opiate based are linked to heroin use and addiction.based are linked to heroin use and addiction.

Our youth are ignorant when it comes to drug Our youth are ignorant when it comes to drug abuse. abuse.

They are unaware of purity levels, addiction They are unaware of purity levels, addiction propensity, changes in their physical demeanor, propensity, changes in their physical demeanor, and the fact that when other drugs such as and the fact that when other drugs such as fentanyl are mixed with heroin, it can be a fentanyl are mixed with heroin, it can be a deadly combination. deadly combination.

Why Heroin? Why Heroin?

Cheap ($5 for a bindle-Cheaper than a six Cheap ($5 for a bindle-Cheaper than a six pack of beer). pack of beer).

Readily Available (Networking) Readily Available (Networking) Purity Levels (Greater today than it was Purity Levels (Greater today than it was

years ago). years ago). It is first introduced to them in the powder It is first introduced to them in the powder

form. form. Instant “rush” when injected. Instant “rush” when injected.

USEUSE

Many youths will first begin to snort heroin. Many youths will first begin to snort heroin. Once they build a tolerance level, they will Once they build a tolerance level, they will

inject it. Typically they will obtain syringes inject it. Typically they will obtain syringes from their local drug dealer or will from their local drug dealer or will purchase them at the corner store. purchase them at the corner store.

TransportationTransportation

Use their vehicle or their parents. Use their vehicle or their parents. Today, many are using the bus as a Today, many are using the bus as a

means of transportation. By using the means of transportation. By using the bus, minimizes the chance of being bus, minimizes the chance of being stopped by the police, operating while stopped by the police, operating while under the influence of drugs, and the under the influence of drugs, and the possibility of having their vehicle seized. possibility of having their vehicle seized.

Drug dealers are using the bus and Drug dealers are using the bus and meeting kids at the mall. meeting kids at the mall.

Operation Smack DownOperation Smack Down

Why created? Why created?

Operation Smack Down was a multi-Operation Smack Down was a multi-jurisdictional effort to reduce the number of jurisdictional effort to reduce the number of drug traffickers and users that are involved drug traffickers and users that are involved in the sales and possession of heroin. in the sales and possession of heroin. The members consisted of law The members consisted of law enforcement officers from the federal, enforcement officers from the federal, state, and local levels. state, and local levels.

It took approximately six weeks to gather It took approximately six weeks to gather intelligence on the heroin traffickers. This intelligence on the heroin traffickers. This was done by surveillance and controlled was done by surveillance and controlled heroin buys. heroin buys.

In 2007 and 2009 over 150 law In 2007 and 2009 over 150 law enforcement officers participated in the enforcement officers participated in the three day task force. three day task force.

Operation Smack DownOperation Smack Down

Results of SmackDownResults of SmackDown

From the three day event in 2007 and 2009, From the three day event in 2007 and 2009, the following transpired: the following transpired:

Arrests: Arrests: 230230

Search Warrants:Search Warrants: 3737

Vehicles Seized:Vehicles Seized: 108108

Heroin Seized:Heroin Seized: 137 grams-685 137 grams-685 packets packets

Many other drugs were confiscatedMany other drugs were confiscated

2009 Statistics2009 Statistics

76 individuals were arrested from the 76 individuals were arrested from the following communities.following communities.

Algonac, Centerline, Chesterfield Twp., Algonac, Centerline, Chesterfield Twp., Clinton Twp., Commerce Twp., Clinton Twp., Commerce Twp., Eastpointe, Fraser, Harper Woods, Eastpointe, Fraser, Harper Woods, Harrison Twp., Macomb Twp., Mt. Harrison Twp., Macomb Twp., Mt. Clemens, Richmond, Rochester Hills, Clemens, Richmond, Rochester Hills, Roseville, Royal Oak, Shelby Twp., St. Roseville, Royal Oak, Shelby Twp., St. Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Utica, Clair Shores, Sterling Heights, Utica, Warren, and Washington Twp. Warren, and Washington Twp.

2009 Stats2009 Stats

Males Arrested: Males Arrested: 5959 Females Arrested:Females Arrested: 1717

Smack Down-Unusual Smack Down-Unusual CircumstancesCircumstances

Several youths were purchasing heroin, and Several youths were purchasing heroin, and pulling over on the freeway to inject it. pulling over on the freeway to inject it.

Several individuals drove to fast food Several individuals drove to fast food restaurants and injected in the bathrooms. restaurants and injected in the bathrooms.

A professor, nurse, honor students, and youths A professor, nurse, honor students, and youths who had scholarships were arrested. who had scholarships were arrested.

One mother drove her son to the drug house One mother drove her son to the drug house because she had no idea what to do. because she had no idea what to do.

Several of them swallowed the heroin prior to Several of them swallowed the heroin prior to being stopped by the police. being stopped by the police.

What We LearnedWhat We Learned

There are no boundaries to this drug. There are no boundaries to this drug. Heroin does not discriminateHeroin does not discriminate This is a national problem This is a national problem Drug dealers are a lot smarter than we think. Drug dealers are a lot smarter than we think.

(Advertise, lookouts, constantly move their (Advertise, lookouts, constantly move their product and money)product and money)

Use abandoned homes, street corners, and Use abandoned homes, street corners, and juveniles to sell their product. juveniles to sell their product.

From the experience, approximately 95% of the From the experience, approximately 95% of the time our youth are obtaining heroin from Detroit. time our youth are obtaining heroin from Detroit.

Parents Responsibilities/Red FlagsParents Responsibilities/Red Flags

Be open with your child. Know where they are Be open with your child. Know where they are and who they are hanging out out with. and who they are hanging out out with.

If you suspect drug abuse, do not be afraid to If you suspect drug abuse, do not be afraid to get immediate help. Many parents are get immediate help. Many parents are embarrassed and will close their eyes and embarrassed and will close their eyes and hoping the addiction will go away. hoping the addiction will go away.

Look for paraphernalia that is associated with Look for paraphernalia that is associated with drug abuse such as syringes, orange syringe drug abuse such as syringes, orange syringe caps, burned spoons, burned bottle covers, caps, burned spoons, burned bottle covers, packaging such as tin foil, lottery tickets, packaging such as tin foil, lottery tickets, magazine ads. magazine ads.

Parents Responsibilities/Red FlagsParents Responsibilities/Red Flags

Look for changes in personality, hygiene, Look for changes in personality, hygiene, and falling grades. and falling grades.

Money, other valuables, spoons, or Money, other valuables, spoons, or prescription drugs missingprescription drugs missing

Unexpected arrests such as retail fraud, Unexpected arrests such as retail fraud, larceny, and home invasion. larceny, and home invasion.

Check for bruising on the armsCheck for bruising on the arms

Non-Profit Organization that educates and supports Non-Profit Organization that educates and supports individuals who are struggling with drug addiction individuals who are struggling with drug addiction issues. issues.

Website: FamiliesAgainstNarcotics.org Website: FamiliesAgainstNarcotics.org

Contact : 586-438-8500 or email at Contact : 586-438-8500 or email at fan@familiesagainstnarcotics.comfan@familiesagainstnarcotics.com

Families Against Narcotics meetings – 3rd Tuesday Families Against Narcotics meetings – 3rd Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Christ United of the month, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., Christ United Methodist Church, 34385 Garfield Road, Fraser, Methodist Church, 34385 Garfield Road, Fraser, Michigan.Michigan.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERSQUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Lt. George T. Rouhib Jr. Lt. George T. Rouhib Jr.

(586) 294-8902(586) 294-8902

rouhibg@fraserdps.comrouhibg@fraserdps.com