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Drugs have huge impact on small community

The Hillsdale Daily News - 3/10/2018

March 10--Editor's Note: This is the first in a three part series on the drug epidemic. The second part of this series will appear in the Mar. 17 edition of The Hillsdale Daily News.

HILLSDALE COUNTY -- The drug epidemic sweeping across vast portions of the United States and ravaging families from all backgrounds is as prevalent as ever in Hillsdale County.

In 2016, Hillsdale County saw its proportionate share of the opioid epidemic, with more than 20 reported overdoses and a handful of deaths contributed to overdoses.

That trend slid downward in 2017 and continued in the first few months of 2018.

However, the gap left by this downward trend has been filled with a spike in crystal methamphetamine use and availability, according to law enforcement officials, prosecuting officials and addicts alike.

While crystal methamphetamine may not be a complete stranger to Hillsdale County, the drug is once again flooding the streets of our rural villages, cities and townships.

Hillsdale County Sheriff Tim Parker and Hillsdale County Chief Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Rod Hassinger independently confirmed this trend in interviews.

Alarmingly, since Jan. 1, law enforcement officials have made four separate arrests where individuals have been charged with possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine -- a 20 year felony -- and weapons violations. Court documents reveal these individuals have been in possession of an ounce of crystal methamphetamine or more at the time of their arrests. This amount is concerning, considering the fact that most methamphetamine related offenses in the past three years have been for residual amounts or tenths of grams.

However, despite these large quantities, officials believe those arrested are "low hanging fruit" and not responsible for manufacturing or trafficking the narcotic into Hillsdale County. Parker believes most of the crystal methamphetamine -- which has a higher quality than meth produced in a "one-pot cook" -- is finding its way to Hillsdale County from other counties and states.

Those involved with the narcotics underworld -- who wished to speak on condition of anonymity -- confirmed that crystal methamphetamine has flooded the local black market so much that the price of a gram of the drug has dropped from $125 to $75.

However, Hillsdale County's drug issues involve substances of all sorts. Parker confirmed that in addition to heroin and fentanyl being recovered off of Hillsdale County streets, there has been an instance where carfentanyl -- a drug more potent than fentanyl itself -- has been recovered and confirmed by the Michigan State Police Crime Lab.

Alarmingly, Parker highlighted statistics from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, indicating that around six percent of high school students and almost three percent of middle school students have admitted to taking opioid pain medication -- such as oxycodone -- without a prescription.

To compound this mounting and pressing issues, financial resources available to combat the drug epidemic have dwindled. Parker confirmed that his department had one full time deputy assigned to the regional drug task force at one point in time, but that deputy was removed from the task force due to a shrinking road patrol staff, limited by financial constraints.

In 2018, drug enforcement in Hillsdale County primarily falls into the hands of two deputies at the Hillsdale County Sheriff's Office who work narcotics cases part time every week, while serving as road patrol deputies the remaining hours of their week. The Hillsdale City Police Department also has one officer trained in narcotics enforcement. And, finally, the regional drug task force continues to service Hillsdale County on a periodic basis.

"Our officers do a terrific job," Parker said.

Information provided by the prosecutor's office indicates the Hillsdale Narcotics Enforcement Team -- manned by the deputies -- brought forward 55 individual narcotics related cases in all of 2017.

To address these compounding and growing issues, law enforcement officials and those involved in the judicial system have had to "think outside the box" in combating the issues of addiction, that effect all walks of life.

In 2017, Hillsdale County District Judge Sara S. Lisznyai launched a treatment court program at the district court level and the Hillsdale County Probate Court has long utilized a treatment court program in dealing with abuse and neglect cases.

The goal of these treatment courts is to reduce recidivism and provide assistance to those addicted to drugs and alcohol, instead of continuing to send addicts through a revolving door of jail or prison. The district court's treatment program spans 15 months on average and provides addicts with comprehensive supervision, counseling, treatment and mentoring.

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(c)2018 Hillsdale Daily News, Mich.

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