Drug abuse forum pulls in hundreds

Approximately 400 area residents came together as a community in the Gardner Gymnasium at Washington Academy on Saturday evening, April 9, to listen to a 17‑member panel explain the seriousness of the drug abuse problem in Washington County and to attempt to find solutions to the issue.
Brian Frutchey of Roque Bluffs, who organized the event, introduced himself as being "an addict seven years ago" and emphasized the importance of speaking out. "If you see something, say something." He added that the evening was "not a time for finger pointing [but] a time to get answers."
The panel included a number of long‑time members of law enforcement, over a half dozen counselors doing individual and group therapy, some involved in programs for both adolescents and adults, and a member of the clergy. Representatives from the offices of U.S. Senators Susan Collins and Angus King and Congressman Bruce Poliquin were in attendance at the forum as well as Senator David Burns and Rep. Will Tuell.
Attendees also included three rows of former addicts who credited their success in overcoming their addiction to help from Pastor Aaron Dudley and the Machias Christian Fellowship, a church in the Kennebec District of Machias. One individual said he had "tried everything, including counseling, therapy, methadone, pills, heroin" and had been in jail, "but nothing helped until going to church and turning to God." He said that his 20‑year journey of drug addiction began with a prescription.
His comment concerning prescription drugs was supported by Gordon Smith of the Maine Opiate Collaborative, who said that 80% of those on heroin started on prescription drugs, although maybe not their own. Smith said, "There should be strict limits on pain meds in the U.S." However, he cautioned against "going too far."
This sentiment was echoed by a mother who said she had lost her adult daughter to alcoholism after the source of her pain could not be determined and she was refused medication. She then turned to alcohol for relief. She was eventually diagnosed with a rare, painful medical condition, but it was too late. She begged the panel and the audience to find a solution.
Machias Police Chief Grady Dwelley, a former narcotics agent, said, "We need to stem the flow of narcotics from out of state, take out the profit, heal and get to manageable numbers."
Matt Foster, district attorney for Hancock and Washington counties, said, "The community needs to take action before it gets to law enforcement." A member of the audience complained that often suspected drug activity is reported without any obvious effect. Mike Crabtree, chief deputy of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, responded, "We have to follow rules." He added that reports of suspected drug activity should include places, time of day and kind of vehicles and that the caller may be asked to be a witness. It also was noted that callers should continue to report any suspected activity even though expected results may not be immediately evident.
Peter Duston of Cherryfield, a private counselor, stressed the importance of early intervention, saying, "Schools need better programs and, although there are many guidance counselors in area schools, many little kids feel that there is nobody to talk to." Rodney Merritt, who has 30 years of experience in law enforcement and worked in a drug education program for 12 years, agreed and said, "No one is doing it [drug education] now; no money for it." When Merritt was conducting the program, he worked with all fifth graders in Washington County. He that fifth grade is "not enough."
Terri Woodruff, who represented Healthy Acadia on the panel, said that the agency is "available for community presentations such as awareness programs for parents and leadership programs for kids, which can run in the summer or be taken into schools."
It was noted by panel members that a lot of relapses happen when an addict comes out of a controlled environment. Those recovering from addiction need to do all the pieces, including attending the Arise Addiction Recovery or AA meetings, finding community support and changing their environment, since an addict is not going to get clean if he keeps the same friends.
Pastor Aaron Dudley noted that the "Arise Recovery is connected with a detox center in Houlton" and that transportation can be arranged. A member of the audience interjected that both the Calais and Machias hospitals can also handle detox. Richard Rolfe, Washington County jail administrator, said that six people needed detox at the jail on a Saturday two weeks previously. "If the cycle could be broken, we wouldn't see them."
It was noted that child protective services can remove children from an alcoholic or addict's home, which sometimes serves as an incentive toward a parent's efforts toward recovery.
Rep. Will Tuell summed up the possible solutions as being "better prescription practices, stop the flow of drugs into the state, outreach education in schools, and [if you] see something, say something."
Healthy Acadia plans to sponsor more meetings on the drug problem in May, one in Calais and one in Jonesport. Members of all communities are urged to attend.