Sheriffs Corner Update

Opioids, Community, Victims and Law Enforcement

There isn’t a day that goes by, that we aren’t asked about the growing opioid epidemic that is creating genuine concern for our community, State and Country.

Tragically our community has suffered the loss of several young community members in the most recent year. This epidemic touches every single one of us in certain ways; most of us have known someone or have had a family member struggling with addiction. You must talk with your kids about this epidemic before a friend of theirs does!

Our Office has created a resource that allows community members to seek help from counseling or addiction treatment and mental health. Although creating a resource is a helpful tool, this is not enough to combat this epidemic. Often I have parents at my office that are at the point where they have to make some serious choices about whether or not a family member gets arrested for petty crimes they have committed. Although it is not the most desirable outcome, and jail is not something we seek for first time offenders who have an addiction issue, it may be the only choice we have to get the person to comply with treatment and substance abuse counseling.

In many situations, in talking with countless parents, it always seems to be that they had a suspicion that something was going on but did not know where to seek help or guidance. I am asking all of our community members to please pay special attention to the behaviors and actions that your kids are taking and doing. It may be something as subtle clues of change of behavior that may encourage you to get involved with your children and have this discussion. Often when law enforcement gets involved the behavior has reached a plateau where criminal charges are the only solution. Those addicted commit crimes of theft to fund their habits after they have depleted families of items and cash.

In the upcoming year we will be continuing our partnership with our Schools, Community Associations, and Businesses to ensure that they are aware of the signs, symptoms, and what resources they have available to them to deal with this epidemic.

I’m encouraging open dialogue with your children and family members about this epidemic that can and has killed many of our community members. You will see displayed around the county informational boards placed by the drug-free coalition updating suspected overdoses and suspected heroin death statistics. This should be a reminder to our community that one death is too many, and it’s time that parents start a dialogue with their children.

Myself as well as other key community members, including Dr. Joseph Ciotola indicated three years ago that this epidemic was on its way, we implemented Drug Take Backs, Narcan in all the police vehicles, made countless arrests for possession and distribution, participated in community events and opiate rallies, and have worked with countless parents who tragically lost a child. Law enforcement has taken a very active role for the past several years in putting this issue out front and of importance, as it affects all of us. It is time that family members aggressively seek and reach out for treatment.

In the next few months my office with many other community partners will be holding Heroin and Opiate Town Hall Events at selected locations in the County. We will keep you posted on the upcoming events and urge parents to attend these short but informative sessions. It takes an entire community like ours to keep us all safe and substance free.

As your Sheriff, this issue is of great importance to my staff and I and I encourage you to contact me should you have any needs or concern as our community and state battle this addiction issue.

Sincerely,

Sheriff Gary Hofmann

443.496.1277

sheriff@qac.org