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the voice of the abingtons abingtonsuburban.com | nov. 10, 2016
A Clarks Summit church has begun a coffeehousestyle service|PAGE 7
The Daraja Children’s Choir performs in Clarks Summit |PAGE 7
An Abington Heights grad has had a paper published |PAGE 8
BAttlinG A crisis County D.A. set to speak on the heroin epidemic by Linda Scott
Lackawanna County Drug Task Force from January to September. SPEciaL to tHE abinGton SUbURban The Heroin Hits Home presentation is sponsored by Clearbrook Foundation There is a growing crisis, not only in and the Abington Community Library Lackawanna County but throughout the country: the rise of heroin use, which can Families Helping Families series. “Families Helping Families started ruin lives and lead to overdose and death. nine years ago and meets every WednesLackawanna District Attorney Shane day from September to May,” explained Scanlon will present Heroin Hits Home on Wednesday, Nov. 16, at the Abington Gary Davis, the founder of the group and a group facilator. “It is an outreach for Community Library, 1200 W. Grove St. in Clarks Summit. The event will begin at families and individuals seeking help for their additions. This is an opportunity 7 p.m. for information vehicles to come to“Drug addiction and fatal overdoses gether and offer support. Guest speakare on the increase. I am trying to reach ers have included police officers, school out to the community and schools and superintendents and health care workers let people know that the usage of strong drugs is widespread,” Scanlon said. “Fami- such as doctors, psychiatrists and theralies are losing someone who is struggling pists. Drugs are found in bedrooms and with sticking a needle in their arm. Drugs living rooms. This group educates and do not discriminate. In this area, in 2014 informs individuals.” According to the Heroin Hits Home there were 35 drug overdose deaths, in website, 75 percent of heroin addicts be2015 there were 69 and this year more gin abusing drugs with prescription opithan 100.” oids. The person likes how it makes them On the Heroin Hits Home website, them feel and they convince themselves created through an initiative of the they can control how much they take. But Lackawanna County District Attorney’s addiction, and the use of stronger drugs office, Lackawanna County Coroner Tim like heroin, often follow. Rowland states that someone dies from The physical signs of a person who an overdose, on average, every three days in Lackawanna County. Heroin overdoses is addicted include: red glassy eyes and small pupils, sniffing or runny nose, shalin the county have doubled in the past low or slow breathing, slurred speech, year and there were 379 arrests by the slow heart rate, analgesia (feeling no pain), euphoria, nausea and vomiting, itchy or flushed skin, constipation, poor coordination and extreme fidgeting. Behavioral signs can include: mood swings, withdrawal from family members, TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 11/09/16
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Lackawanna County District Attorney Shane Scanlon staffs a “Heroin Hits Home” informational booth on Courthouse Square.
changes in appetite and weight, carelessness about personal grooming, changes in sleeping patterns, poor judgement and loss of interest in sports or hobbies. Denial is a key characteristic and “hitting rock bottom” is dangerous. A relatively new tool in this fight is Naloxone, sold under the brand name Narcan. It is an FDA-approved emergency treatment that can reverse an opioid overdose. The Pennsylvania Good Samaritan Act allows first responders including law enforcement, fire fighters, emergency medical services and other organizations, to administer the drug. The drug can work within minutes to bring a person out of an overdose.
However, simply stopping an overdose does not address the underlying addiction. There are treatment facilities available that provide inpatient and outpatient treatment. These include Marworth Alcohol and Chemical Dependency Treatment Center in Waverly Township, Clearbrook Treatment Center in Scranton and Just Believe in Carbondale, among others. “This area is a major source for bigger cities with highways such as 81, 380 and 84 nearby,” Scanlon said. “Drugs are coming through here. We need to talk about it. It is here. It hits home and no one is immune.”