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About Keizertimes. (Salem, Or.) 1979-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 27, 2015)
PAGE A12, KEIZERTIMES, NOVEMBER 27, 2015 DRUGS, continued from Page A1 Those conclusions match what investigators with the Keizer Police Department have found, as referenced in previous stories of the ongo- ing Chasing Dark series in the Keizertimes. According to the report, more than 120 people die each day in the United States from a drug overdose. Many of the Chasing Dark stories have focused on heroin use locally. The DEA report supports that by showing the increased heroin use in recent years. For example, one chart shows the greatest drug threats and lists cocaine, meth, mari- juana, heroin and controlled prescription drugs (CPDs). In 2007 heroin was fourth on the list, with about 8 percent of respondents reporting it to be the biggest threat. By 2009 heroin was up to third with about 13 percent. That num- ber jumped to 25 percent in 2013 and 29 percent in 2014. In 2015, heroin surpassed meth as the biggest threat, at 38 percent. “The threat posed by heroin in the United States is serious and has increased since 2007,” the report states. “Heroin is available in larger quantities, used by a larger number of people, and is caus- ing an increasing number of overdose deaths. Increased de- mand for, and use of, heroin is being driven by both increas- ing availability of heroin in the U.S. market and by some opi- oid CPD abusers using heroin. CPD abusers who begin using heroin do so chiefl y because of price differences, but also because of availability, and the reformulation of OxyContin, a commonly abused prescrip- tion opioid. “Heroin overdose deaths are increasing in many cities and counties across the Unit- ed States, particularly in the Northeast, as well as areas of the Midwest,” the report adds, listing possible reasons for the increased overdose death of heroin users as an overall in- crease in heroin users, high purity batches of heroin, more new users who are young and inexperienced with the drug and the use of highly toxic heroin adulterants such as fen- tanyl. “Further, heroin users who have stopped using heroin for a period of time (due to treat- Celts pick up 25 all-league honors McNary athletes scooped up a bevy of honors in all- league selections for Greater Valley Conference fall sports. In football, Hayden Sader was named fi rst team tight end; Brady Sparks was named fi rst team running back; and Kolby Barker was named to the defensive line of the fi rst team by unanimous vote. Second team honors went to: Trent Van Cleave, quar- terback; Jason Sperle, center; Matt Aguilar, receiver; La- Croix Hill, defensive line; and Kyle Aicher, safety. Honorable mentions went to: Caleb Kiefl uk-Yates, of- fensive tackle; Aicher, run- ning back; Gage Mance, line- backer; and Tanner Gordon, safety. In girls soccer, Kelli Miller received fi rst team, all-league honors. Honorable mentions were: Kayla Evans, Michaela Sanchez, Abigail Smith and Jessy Shore. In boys soccer, Gustavo Villalvazo was named to the fi rst team all-league and Pau- lo Reyes was named to the second team all-league. Ra- mon Duenas was an honor- able mention. In volleyball, Vanessa Hayes received fi rst team, all-league honors while Madi Hings- ton, Sydney Hunter and Ky- lie Gilmour were named to the second team all-league. Madie Cloyd was an honor- able mention. ment programs, incarceration, etc.) and subsequently return to using heroin are particu- larly susceptible to overdose, because their tolerance for the drug has decreased,” the re- port states. According to the survey, 53 percent of respondents this year said heroin availability was high or moderate in their area, with 65 percent saying heroin availability was increas- ing and 64 percent saying her- oin demand was increasing. Of the DEA’s 21 fi eld di- visions, 10 reported heroin availability was high in the fi rst half of 2014. According to National Seizure System data, heroin seizures in the U.S. increased 81 percent over a fi ve-year period, from 2,763 kilograms in 2010 to 5,014 kilograms in 2014. The average size of a hero- in seizure more than doubled during that time period, from .86 kilograms in 2010 to 1.74 kilograms in 2014. Data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health shows an 80 percent increase in heroin users from 2007 to 2012, increasing from 161,000 users in 2007 to 335,000 in 2012. In addition, the survey found a 26 percent increase in users who reported lifetime heroin usage. Between 2007 and 2013, the number of heroin-related overdose deaths in the U.S. increased from 2,402 in 2007 to 8,257 in 2013. More alarm- ing, there were approximately 3,000 such deaths in 2010, meaning a signifi cant uptick in just three years. Worse yet, it’s believed the number of heroin deaths are underreported. BIDS, continued from Page A1 c hasing Dark “Heroin deaths are of- ten undercounted because of variations in state reporting procedures, and because hero- in metabolizes into morphine very quickly in the body, mak- ing it diffi cult to determine the presence of heroin,” the report states. Relief isn’t expected any- time soon. “Heroin use and overdose deaths are likely to continue to increase in the near term,” ac- cording to the report. “Mexi- can traffi ckers are making a concerted effort to increase heroin availability in the U.S. market. The drug’s increased availability and relatively low cost make it attractive to the large number of opioid abus- ers (both prescription opioid and heroin) in the United States.” The full report can be found online at http://www.dea.gov/ docs/2015%20NDTA%20Re- port.pdf. While underground infra- structure and moving of lines continued this week, above ground work around the inter- section of Chemawa and Verda will be done next year. “Unless approved otherwise, trees confl icting with the work will be removed sometime in February, prior to the March 1 start of the migratory bird nesting season,” Cronemiller said. “The fences will be dealt with during the course of construction, estimated to start June 1 or shortly thereafter.” Per statute and specifi cation, ODOT awards contracts within 30 days of bid opening. After the decision has been made to award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder, ODOT staff must determine the bidder in question meets certain criteria, including having a satisfactory record of performance and integrity, available resources and is legally qualifi ed to do the work. The roundabout, a source of controversy since being announced, was originally going to be constructed in the summer of 2014. The approximately $2 million project was brought up due to long lines on Chemawa during peak traffi c times in the morning and evening. The roundabout was then going to be built this past summer, but in February the project got delayed another year. At that time, the Nov. 19 bid opening date was set. Construction is expected to last about three months. Depending on when the work starts next summer, it could be completed before the 2016-17 school year begins. Donate gift cards to military families The public can help families of deployed Oregon National Guard personnel this holiday season by donating gift cards. Fam- ilies of the deployed often experience fi nancial diffi culties and the donated gift cards offer relief. Gift cards for groceries, toys, clothing and gasoline are most sought after. Purchased gift cards can be mailed to: Oregon Na- tional Guard Association, PO Box 14350, Salem, OR 97309. 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