COUDERSPORT — On April 11, a public forum was held at the Galeton School on the drug epidemic in Pennsylvania, Potter County District Attorney District Attorney Andy Watson announced.
The purpose of the presentation was to provide education and answer questions concerning the abuse of illegal drugs, specifically heroin. Watson, Drug Task Force member and chief of the Galeton Borough Police Department Christopher Brackman and Trooper Michael Delp spoke at the event, which was attended by approximately 40-50 people. Members of the public also shared personal stories about addiction.
Brackman spoke about signs a person is abusing heroin and the culture of heroin abuse. Delp spoke on marijuana addiction, thought of as a gateway drug to narcotic abuse. Also, overdose can occur where marijuana is ingested through food or smoked in conjunction with other drugs.
Watson provided data on drug overdoses nationally and in Pennsylvania. Reports from Pennsylvania coroners indicated there were 3,505 overdose deaths in 2015, or about 10 per day. Most of them were opiate related.
Watson also spoke of the efforts to battle the problem in Potter County. Some of these efforts include the local Drug Task Force, the C.L.E.A.N. (Concerned Law Enforcement Against Narcotics) Protocol, DUI and Drug Treatment Courts, the use of Naloxone/Narcan to reverse overdose effects, prescription medication take back boxes throughout the county and a new pretrial diversionary program.
Watson urged those in attendance to openly talk about the C.L.E.A.N. Protocol in the community. The program was implemented in 2016 and provides that any person who approaches a law enforcement official and reports their addiction or need for help, even if they turn over drugs or drug paraphernalia in their possession, will not be investigated or charged and no questions will be asked. Instead, the law enforcement official will immediately assist the individual in obtaining a referral to Potter County Drug and Alcohol Abuse Services for addiction counseling.
This protocol is a means of public outreach to work with addicts to get immediate help and not fear criminal prosecution in asking for that help. The exception to the policy of no prosecution is where an individual is already charged with a crime or is under current investigation by the Drug Task Force for drug activity. This is to help avoid if a potential target of the Drug Task Force is dealing drugs and finds out that they are the potential target for an ongoing investigation or an immediate controlled buy and they approach law enforcement to ask for help to avoid imminent arrest.
The C.L.E.A.N. Protocol continues to gain support in Potter County, and referrals for treatment have been made in the past year with the help of law enforcement. Anyone who is interested or needs more information on the protocol or other initiatives taken in Potter County on the heroin epidemic can contact Watson at 814-274-9450, director of Drug and Alcohol Services Colleen Wilber or approach and law enforcement officer.
Watson said the following people helped to organize the event: Galeton Borough Council, The Galeton Area School District, Brackman and the staff in the District Attorney’s Office.
