February 27, 2023 |
A focus on family and education was the main takeaway from the Saratoga community roundtable on drug abuse Thursday evening.
Following the fentanyl overdose deaths of a young Saratoga couple, Cassidee Wingo and Richard Heap, residents were looking for answers. Part of the answer, attendees suggested in law enforcement. Saratoga Police Chief Mike Morris was asked how he plans to address drugs coming into town. Chief Morris said combatting drug abuse requires community involvement.
Photo: Platte Valley Community Center – file photo
An audience member asked about law enforcement speaking to students about the dangers of drugs. Carbon County School District #2 Superintendent Darrin Jennings said the school already has a DARE program in place. Jennings said the program seems to work well in the county’s schools.
Another suggestion from the audience was to have the police carry NARCAn, the opioid reversal drug. Narcan is a nasal spray that can potentially save someone from an opioid overdose. Chief Morris said his officers already carry the medication. He suggested the town set up a location where addicts can obtain Narcan.
SCWEMS first responders also carry Narcan. But Narcan isn’t a miracle drug. It is only effective in preventing overdose deaths related to opioids, like heroin and fentanyl. While rated 93% effective in reversing an overdose, sometimes multiple doses are required. Kristen Teubner, a healthcare provider in town, said she has heard stories of it taking up to seven doses of Narcan before a person regained consciousness. She said administering so much of the medication to a person who isn’t able to consent poses potential legal liabilities for the person who intervenes. Teubner added the anti-opioid doesn’t prevent drug abuse in the first place.
Members of the audience agreed that Narcan won’t stop people from acquiring drugs. They asked Chief Morris what he was doing to stem the flow of illegal narcotics into town. The Saratoga Police Chief said he isn’t focusing on the drugs moving through town, but the drugs that are already here.
Chief Morris said the Saratoga PD is working with the Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations to find the source of the fentanyl that killed Wingo, Heap, and an unnamed Hanna man. However, Chief Morris said he could not provide any details on how the investigation is being conducted. Carbon County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Sue Jones told the townspeople to let law enforcement do their job.
Hanna Marshal Ted Kranenberg said the push for marijuana legalization has changed people’s perceptions about drug use. Marshal Kranenberg said fighting drug abuse needs to start in the home. He said people need to come together to stop the drugs from getting into the communities.
Audience members concluded that having a drug abuse call line would benefit addicts looking to quit. Saratoga Councilwoman Kathy Beck asked for contact information of people willing to set up the call line. Everyone seemed to agree that more meetings should occur, but as of the reporting of this story, no date has been set.
