Readers react to heroin crisis

Carol Durham's sister, Cindy, had a successful day care business in Delaware.

She always kept herself up and didn't miss a pedicure.

But Durham, who lives in Buena Vista, Ga., said everything changed after her sister's son died in a motorcycle accident in December 2013. Cindy, who was in her early 50s, became addicted to prescription drugs and then something even stronger that made her look gaunt and like she was 80 years old, Durham said.

The family had no idea what that drug was when Cindy died at home on June 17 of drug-related complications. After an autopsy, the death certificate read, "Cause of Death: Heroin."

"I was really depressed because Cindy and I were very close," Durham told the Ledger-Enquirer. "I've been here five years and I would always tell Cindy, 'Why don't you come down and visit me sometime?' She never got to make it down here."

Durham, 57, is just one of the many readers who reacted to the Ledger-Enquirer's Red Ribbon Week series, "Heroin's Grip," which revealed a growing heroin crisis in the Chattahoochee Valley. Many people are turning to the opioid, which was popular in the 1970s, because it's easier to purchase, less expensive and offers a better high than many prescription pills, some drug experts and users said.

The series sparked lively conversation on the Ledger-Enquirer website and Facebook page among readers not only in Columbus, but also in other cities.

"Every time I read (one of the articles) I'm like, 'That's Cindy, that's Cindy,'" Durham said, "because I never knew what heroin could do to you."

Others like Murray Anderson, the wine manager at Mr. B's Liquor Beer & Wine, called the Ledger-Enquirer to discuss possible solutions to the problem.

Anderson is a member of the city's Public Safety Commission representing District 8. He said the growing heroin problem has been discussed at recent meetings, and he would like to help the commission galvanize the community for change.

"Awareness in the community is very important," he said. "I would like to see it become a part of the mission for the churches, because any time there's a problem in the community, it shouldn't just be addressed by the people who are involved."

The Rev. Brady Baird, pastor of Summerville United Methodist Church in Phenix City, said it's sad that a drug like heroin has made its way into the area and that many people are still unaware.

"It's going to take the entire community coming together as some kind of taskforce to eliminate the problem," he said.

"And I believe the church can play a role in helping to facilitate support because the health of the community is central to the church's mission."

Xavier M. McCaskey, a licensed mental health counselor, said he has seen three heroin patients at his practice within the last year.

He referred them to local hospitals for detoxification.

"It's a cheap drug and some of what they call a 'hit,' or the vials, are going for as low as $3 and some are going for $10," he said. "It's between an eight- and 12-hour high.

"So compared to marijuana, compared to crack, what do you think people are going to use? They're going to go for the cheapest high."

McCaskey said heroin is no longer a street drug and many influential people are using it, which means it will lead to more problems in the broader community.

"Most people become non-functioning drug addicts, they don't work, they live here and there," he said. "The epidemic spawns everything -- addiction, robbery, prostitution. ... Their body is craving that dopamine, so they'll do whatever they have to do to get it."

In terms of solutions, he said it will take people confronting their loved ones.

"If you know somebody that's doing it, get them help," he said.

"Do family intervention, talk to them. Say, 'Hey, what's going on in your life that you had to make this decision to use a deadly drug?' Most people think they can handle it, but I haven't seen one client handle drug addiction."

Alva James-Johnson, 706-571-8521. Reach her on Facebook at AlvaJamesJohnsonLedger.

This story was originally published October 29, 2015 at 9:14 PM with the headline "Readers react to heroin crisis ."