City Of Ashland Holds Drug Forum

Community members and officials in Ashland held a forum Sunday to talk about their growing concerns over the area’s drug epidemic.

Officials and community members both agree that drugs in their area have become more and more prevalent.

They say meth is a huge problem, along with heroin and prescription drug abuse.

Although the forum won’t prevent drug use from happening, officials hope it will make people more aware of how to handle the problem.

LaTricia Dugger, Department of Social Services, said, “It’s a big issue that’s been getting bigger in our community and we just really want to help and make it better and do preventative action verses reactive action.”

Studies show drug use can lead to health and societal effects including arrests, abuse, dependence and death.

Jim Gregoire, Interim Police Chief in Ashland, said, “Burglaries are now shifting to burglaries because they need money for drugs so its not just a burglary, there is an intent behind it.”

There are prevention activities and treatment programs to combat drug use but many leaders believe that education is key.

Dugger said “I just hope we can educate and advocate and let people know what is happening and going on and what they can do to assist. Education is really important and letting people know there is help out there.”

Heroin is an increasing problem locally, as well as nationally.

Annual numbers of heroin and other opioid–related deaths in the state increased steadily from 2003 to 2012.