Drug trends identified

Abuse of alcohol and other drugs is taking a huge toll in area communities, resulting in increased crime, medical costs and property damage.

In order to come to terms with the issues, area citizens must recognize the extent of the problem.

Those were the key messages voiced during a wellattended "Drug Trends" public meeting last week.

Cops on the beat and other speakers with first hand knowledge of the local drug scene shared information about the variety of drugs available, law enforcement strategies, causes of drug abuse and related topics.

Representatives from Cameron County Probation Office, Pyramid Health, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, Northwest Pa. Rural AIDS Alliance and Office of Human Services also participated.

Alcohol abuse is a chronic problem, said Tom Niklas, a member of the Northcentral Municipal Drug Task Force, which operates in Cameron, Elk, Cameron and Forest counties.

"By far the most commonly abused and socially accepted drug is alcohol," Nicklas said.

Another task force member, Office Greg McManus of St. Marys, said abuse of prescription drugs and overthe counter medications is on the rise.

"It's getting to the point where they'll take anything," McManus said. "Keep your prescription medications under lock and key, just as you would alcohol, and get rid of old prescriptions that are no longer being used."

He added that most people who abuse more dangerous drugs started as alcohol and/ or marijuana abusers.

"Marijuana is typically present at any type of drug busts, as well as drug-related traffic stops," McManus said.

Drug dealers have moved into rural areas due to the economics of supply and demand, he added. Drugs generally command higher prices in rural areas. Heroin, for example, goes for about $6.00 a bag in cities and as high as $40 a bag in this region.

"Heroin is one of our biggest nightmares in this area," added Police Sgt. John, with most supplies coming from Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

"It's not uncommon for a drug dealer to set up shop (locally) and make a quick $100,000 in two days," Lovett pointed out.