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Massena Police Chief's prescription drug abuse task force spurred in part by suicides

Posted 12/21/11

MASSENA – Massena Police Chief Timmy Currier has formed a task force culled from across the county to deal with prescription drug misuse in Massena, and its impact on suicide rate and crime. The …

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Massena Police Chief's prescription drug abuse task force spurred in part by suicides

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MASSENA – Massena Police Chief Timmy Currier has formed a task force culled from across the county to deal with prescription drug misuse in Massena, and its impact on suicide rate and crime.

The Massena Prescription Drug Misuse Task Force (MPDMTF) will convene its first meeting Wednesday Jan. 18 at 3 p.m.

Citing the likely connection between drug abuse and a recent rash of suicides in Massena, plus a spike in Type 1 crimes including robbery, rape and assault, Currier said the time has come to deal with the problem head-on with a group of mental health and medical professionals, law enforcement, educators and others from a variety of county departments.

They will initially hold closed meetings, but will eventually offer public sessions to include community input. The group may also eventually expand to deal with the problem at the county level.

In addition, Currier will hold a public forum, “Understanding and Preventing Suicide in our Community-A Dialog” Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. at the Massena Central High School Auditorium. More information on that is listed at the end of this release.

Currier’s entire press release, including some alarming statistics for Massena and the whole county, follows:

Prescription drug misuse and abuse is a serious and growing problem in our community. It is however not a new issue in our community. We have steadily seen this issue increase for some time and I believe it is driving the much of the illegal activity including burglaries and robberies here in Massena.

In recent months the Village has experienced several suicides and prescription drug misuse has been associated in some of those cases. The loss of life in itself is tragic; however given the violent and dangerous circumstances that surround some of these cases have caused great alarm in our community.

Suicide rates in St. Lawrence County have risen dramatically in recent years:

2007 = 7 (ave age 33) + 3 accidental lethal intoxication of medication

2008 = 13 (ave age 44) + 4 accidental lethal intoxication of medication

2009 = 14 (ave age 49) + 8 accidental lethal intoxication of medication

2010 = 14 (ave age 47) + 5 accidental lethal intoxication of medication

2011 = 19 (ave age 44) + 4 accidental lethal intoxication of medication

In recent years the Village of Massena has experienced a significant increase in TYPE I Criminal Offenses (Robbery, Rape, Aggravated Assault, Burglary and Larcenies).

From 1995 to 1998 averaging 137 annually

From 1999 to 2002 averaging 180 annually

From 2003 to 2006 averaging 263 annually

From 2007 to 2010 averaging 319 annually

Overall this represents 132% increase in Type I offense since 1995. There is very little doubt that much of this increase can be attributed to illegal drug use.

The time has come to stop reacting to this problem, and to work toward reducing it. I know it will not be easy however we are not alone as this issue can be found in communities all over the country.

• We have a mental health system in this county that is over burdened and under resourced that is forced to rely on medicating people with insufficient therapy [in the early to mid 1990’s we were dealing with an average of 16 mental health incidents a year, we now deal with an average of 60]. It can take months to be seen by a mental health professional and get treatment.

• We have some physicians over prescribing pain medications.

• We have abusers, users and sellers shopping around to various doctors and emergency rooms to get prescriptions.

• We have a criminal justice system that is required to plea bargain cases of repeat offenders just to ensure the system works to some degree. It is complicated by some Judges that refuse to render sentence that could make our streets safer.

• Many of the agencies responsible for providing programs and treatment lack the resources to adequately manage case loads and provide effective case management.

• The path prescription drugs take to hitting are streets is not only from our medicine cabinets, as we know they are being smuggled in through the northern border. Law Enforcement must do a better job in dealing with this.

The average street price for a pain killer medication pill averages $ 80.00 to $ 100.00. This is a very expensive habit to maintain. Considering many of those addicted to the medication are unable to hold a regular job, they are committing crime to support their habit. Others are on social services and their constant need to seek prescriptions is placing a financial burden upon our social services that is unsustainable.

The recent loss of life associated with prescription drug misuse in our community is terrible and I am hopeful the efforts I am proposing will reduce that significantly. These efforts are further intended to deal with the broad yet complex factors contributing to the problem. It is about the burden being placed on the various programs and services these addicts seek. It is also about the safety of law enforcement as they respond and deal with these troubled people. It is also about citizens of our community becoming victims of criminal activity as those addicted look to support their habit. Finally, it is about the needless loss of life that we must work to reduce.

We must take action. There is no easy solution. This will take a broad and comprehensive approach that involves all the stakeholders. Doing nothing is NOT an option.

Therefore, in response to this growing criminal trend, I am convening the leading people in the fields of mental health, medical, social services, law enforcement, counseling, education, criminal justice, pharmaceutical and others areas to address this issue.

The Massena Prescription Drug Misuse Task Force (MPDMTF) will convene its first meeting on January 18, 2012 at 3:00pm.

The primary mission of the MPDMTF is to reduce the impact of prescription drug misuse in our community through the development and implementation of comprehensive integrated strategy of prevention; education; intervention; law enforcement and treatment.

At our first meeting we will identify goals, adopt by-laws, elect a chairperson and discuss strategies for 2012.

Although the meetings of this task force will be closed to the public, future meetings will provide public input time to enable private citizens, professionals and others an opportunity to address the members.

I am very appreciative that the following organizations and agencies have committed members to the task force:

Massena Police Department, Massena Memorial Hospital Administration, Massena area Physicians, Massena Central School District, Massena Village and Town Court, Massena area Dentist, Rose Hill Adolescent Treatment Facility, Massena Area Nurse, St. Lawrence County District Attorney, St. Lawrence County Community Services, St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center, Two area Pharmacist (retail and institutional), St. Lawrence County Probation, St. Lawrence County Workers Compensation, St. Lawrence County Chemical Dependency Services, Seaway Valley Prevention Council,

The work of the Prescription Drug Misuse Task Force is important and no doubt will be challenging. However, I am confident that by pooling our resources, utilizing the many talents of the people in these organizations and by working together with a common mission we will make Massena a better community.

COMMUNITY FORUM – Jan. 10, 7 p.m.

I am also able to announce the development of a community presentation. With the support and resources from the NYS Office of Mental Health, the Office of Suicide Prevention, the NYS Office of Alcohol Substance & Abuse Services, and various other local agencies, an evening of dialogue- “Understanding and Preventing Suicide in our Community” on Tuesday – January 10, 2012 at 7:00pm at the High School Auditorium.

Professionals in the field of suicide prevention, safety and wellness will provide resources for the community members at risk for suicidal behavior and for those struggling to understand and cope with a suicide loss.

We have many worthwhile and beneficial programs here in our area that is supported both regionally and at the State level. This forum will introduce those programs and provide our citizens with very valuable information on this serious topic.