Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

FEBRUARY 2014 Page 4A • Freeman Brookfield & Elm Grove 'YES, IT IS AN EPIDEMIC' Heroin deaths on track to repeat record numbers By Darryl J. Enriquez Special to The Freeman WAUKESHA – Preliminary figures are showing that fatalities due to heroin and other drug overdoses are on track to repeat the record number of overdoses deaths set in 2012. On Jan. 13, a Waukesha County panel talked of several undertakings to combat the rising use of opiates among all ages, the workforce and families. Opiates are a group of drugs that include heroin and OxyContin. Attorney Craig Kuhary, a criminal defense lawyer, is negotiating with the local ESPN radio affiliate to run public service announcements that warn listeners about the rising tide of heroin use in Waukesha County, District Attorney Brad Schimel told the Executive Committee of the Criminal Justice Collaborating Council. When asked after the meeting why he was pursuing the PSAs, Kuhary said: "I don't think the general public knows just how bad this is. I have seen an explosion in my caseload of opiate-related issues. It has been one of the most difficult (aspects) I have come across in my 27 years of practicing law. "Yes, it is an epidemic." Newly released figures from the Waukesha County Medical Examiner's Office confirm Kuhary's concerns. Death reports for the first half of last year showed that 28 confirmed drug overdose deaths occurred, and 10 were attributed to heroin use. In all of 2012, 52 drug deaths happened and 21 were linked to heroin. The 2011 drug fatality fig- ures were 47 and six, respectively, according to medical examiner records. Of the 2013 drug overdoses, 24 were ruled accidental, three were suicides and one case remained undetermined, according to the medical examiner. In the 10 heroin deaths, three were attributed solely to heroin use and seven involved mixing heroin with other substances. In addition to the 10 heroinrelated deaths, another 15 fatalities involved prescription medicines that contained opiates, two involved other types of prescription medicine and one case involved using cocaine, the medical examiner reported. Many addicts become addicted to OxyContin as a prescription medicine and turn to heroin, a cheaper substitute when the medication is no longer available, Kuhary and other experts in the drug field have said. Another weapon in the fight against opiate use is the Waukesha County Drug Court, which the committee learned has been funded by the state with a $142,883 grant for all of this year and likely will receive identical grants into 2015 and 2016. The county must match each grant award with $47,628. The purpose of the court is to rehabilitate nonviolent addicts and those who are not drug dealers with the use of programs that keep them sober and alive. Ten have graduated from the court so far. Others have washed out and one enrollee has died. The new funding will expand the number of defendants in the court and enlarge the role of the coun- Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel talks about a chart showing the hospital admissions for accidental opiate overdose from 2002 to 2011 during an anti-heroin program at the Sharon Lynne Wilson Center for the Arts. ty's fight against opiate addiction, Rebecca Luczaj, Collaborating Council coordinator, said. An extended role may be that Drug Court officials do more to inform the public about the rising misuse of deadly opiates, possibly through PSAs. Kuhary said he's hoping the first PSA will be a full minute, followed up by two 30-second spots. The announcements will involve voice-overs of county efforts to curtail opiate addiction, such as the Drug Court, a family who has lost someone to drugs and a recovering addict, he said. Other communities are scrambling to tell the public about rising heroin use. "The commercials should drive someone to a website for more information," County Board Chairman Paul Decker told the committee. "The drug challenge is becoming alarming to the business community because they're losing workers to heroin." Drug court receives financial support from state program Will continue operating through this year, possibly longer for 2014. If the Drug Court meets its goals and objectives for this year, the program will be WAUKESHA – The Waukesha County eligible to receive $142,883 awards for both Drug Court, established in 2012 to save the 2015 and 2016, she said. The grant is from lives of opiate addicts, was awarded enough the state Department of Justice. state money recently to operate through Luczaj's group directs activities in court this year and possibly through 2016. programs that promote rehabilitation over Rebecca Luczaj, coordinator of the coun- punishment. It tries to help defendants rety's Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, establish normal and useful lives. The said she formally learned Jan. 9 of the group also directs a court for alcoholics and $142,883 award received through the Treatis considering starting a court for military ment Alternatives and Diversion program veterans who find themselves in trouble with the law. Drug Court supporters were nervous about the future of the program if the Coordinating Council had not received the grant. The program only had enough money to operate through September of this year. The county pitched in about $25,000 to keep it operating until the end of 2014. Luczaj said she submitted the grant application in October and lost some sleep over whether the Coordinating Council would Located in the get the award. "I really don't know what we would have Elm Grove Village done if we hadn't got it," she said. 13300 Watertown The award provides enough money to get Plank Road 25 drug addicts off a waiting list and into the Drug Court program, she said. It also Teen & Women's allows the program to contract for a second fashion and accessories case manager from the Department of Justice to manage Drug Court cases, which boutique clothing at involves drug testing, life monitoring and court appearances. affordable prices. From its start in March 2012 through last November, the Drug Court has enrolled 56 Stop in Sunday opiate addicts. The results are that 10 have February 16th graduated and 16 were discharged for not from 1:00-4:00 pm for doing well in the program or for reoffendDiscounts & Desserts. ing. One died while in the program. There are 29 active participants in the program, Chick's Day Out! she said. Waukesha County District Attorney Brad Schimel said the program is generally for Store hours: Tues 10-6, Wed. 9-6, hard-core heroin users and is the last line Thurs. Closed, Fri. 9-5, Sat. 9-4 of defense against the opiate-use epidemic Located next to The Wild Side Salon that's sweeping the county Waukesha . www.getittogetherclothing.vpweb.com County Circuit Judge William Domina presides over Drug Court once a week. He also runs Juvenile Court. 236599002 Clients are eligible for Drug Court after By Darryl J. Enriquez Special to The Freeman Get It Together Clothing 262-784-9453 Wash Everyday Charles Auer/Freeman Staff Rebecca Luczaj, coordinator of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, in her office in the Health and Human Services Building recently. Luczaj said a state grant will allows the county's Drug Court to operate, possibly into 2016. admitting they are guilty of substantial opiGrant money also will be used to finance ate use and agree to strict case managedrug testing, medication to lessen the cravment, involving zero drug use, employment ing for opiates and for other supportive serand family support. vices, Luczaj said. for only $19.95/mo. Come see what separates us from the rest: Jilly's Unlimited FASTPASS is designed for a single car and provides an unlimited number of monthly washes. 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