North Baltimore Police Chief Allan Baer reports:
On 05/27/15 at 0712 hours North Baltimore Police and EMS responded to 330 W. State St in regards to a 34 year old male not breathing. The subject had passed away prior to our arrival. The cause of death is under investigation, however it is suspected to be drug related.
The actual cause will not be determined until the results of the autopsy are provided. Toxicology may take several months. The North Baltimore Police Department, with the assistance of other State Agencies intend to investigate this incident and locate and prosecute those who may have been involved.
Anyone, who has information in regards to this incident is asked to contact the North Baltimore Police Department and ask for or leave a message for Officer Fitzgerald.
The previous drug related death Investigation in North Baltimore is being presented to the Wood County Grand Jury in the near future. It is our hope that those subjects will be indicted and held accountable.
I want to inform the Residents of North Baltimore that the heroin epidemic affecting the United States and especially the State of Ohio is unlike any drug epidemic in our history. The State of Ohio, this year, is on track to exceed Drug Related Deaths than in years past. Hardin County had FIVE (5) heroin related deaths in ONE DAY just last week.
The following is an excerpt from the Columbus Dispatch:
“COLUMBUS, Ohio – The state says a record number of Ohioans died from heroin-related overdoses in 2012 as it released the newest available figures for a problem that’s been called an epidemic and public health crisis.
The Department of Health says 680 people died of heroin overdoses in 2012, up from 426 deaths in 2011, a 37 percent increase.
The heroin increase also drove the overall number of fatal drug overdoses to a new record of 1,272 deaths in 2012, up from 1,154 the previous year.
Heroin addiction has been increasing as addicts turn to the cheaper and more readily available drug.”
Fortunately Heroin Recovery Services are becoming more accessible here in Wood County. The North Baltimore Police Department is working fervently with Mental Health and Addiction Services and currently those services are being provided here in North Baltimore and southern Wood County. Please contact the Wood County ADAMHS Board and Wood County Family Services for additonal information.
Please contact the North Baltimore Police Department with any information you feel may be helpful in the fight against this epidemic.
Chief Baer
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Here are some additional resources and information:
https://www.facebook.com/woodADAMHS
SOLACE is a support group where family members can come for emotional support, educational information and to speak about their loved ones struggling with addiction. Please check out the times and dates.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, someone dies form an opiate overdose every 15 minutes.
Opiate addiction has been a major problem both locally and nationwide in recent years, with addicts often beginning with prescription painkillers, obtained legally or illegally, and then moving on to heroin, which is now cheaper and easier to get.
“This is an epidemic I have never seen” in over 20 years in law enforcement, said North Baltimore Police Chief Allan Baer. “It’s everywhere, and I think that’s catching everyone off guard.”
“As a cop, I love arresting bad guys that do bad things,” he said. “What I don’t like doing is arresting good people who make bad decisions. That’s what I’m seeing with the addicts. They’re good people … but they have this monkey on their back that they just can’t get off.”
For many years, he said, it felt as though law enforcement was the only place dealing with addicts. Now in Wood County, he said, there are many agencies to help.
“This is an opportunity for everyone to know there are services you don’t have to go to the police for.
“We know that handcuffs aren’t going to get it done.”
Excerpt from: http://www.sent-trib.com/news/facing-opiate-epidemic/article_f1bd9e44-ea88-11e4-92e0-2f3f56104997.html
