Drugs and Addiction in Our Communities

April 25, 2013 - TRC - By Damien Pickel, Milo Police Chief

Text "Penquis" with your tip to 274637 (CRIMES). In keeping with the Drug Take Back Program, I wanted to take a moment to talk about drugs and addiction. None of us are blind to the abuse and inappropriate use of prescription drugs. We have made several arrests lately and the alarming trend has been the addition of hypodermic needles and the young age of those involved. Opiates such as Oxycodone, Oxycontin, Percocet, etc. are readily available and could be right in your medicine chest. The ease in which they are obtained is a main reason why the use and subsequent dependence/addiction can happen. Opiate use and addiction is something we all need to look for in our youth. It is something that can be masked in the early stages but there are things you can look for: - Track marks or needle marks - Lethargic or heavy limbs - Wearing long sleeves to cover up their needle marks - Hanging out with different groups - Borrowing money without explanation or missing money - Lack of appearances – not taking care of themselves - Excessive sleeping – opiates will often cause drowsiness - Weight gain – because opiates lead to fatigue - Weight loss – because of the excessive sleep From a law enforcement perspective, we will continue to enforce the laws and summons/arrest the violators. I encourage friends and parents to look for the signs if you see changes in behavior. A community focused on a solution has a better chance of success than one who turns to look the other way. If you know of any illegal activity, you can use the Submit a Tip link (text "Penquis" with your tip to 274637 (crimes).

NOTE - This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of the TRC Alliance Team.