Carroll offers help for drug, alcohol addictions - New Philadelphia Times Reporter

During the last eight weeks, four Carroll County residents have been arrested and charged with trafficking in heroin, and two heroin overdoses have been reported by the sheriff's office.

Larry Townsend, a licensed counselor with the Alcohol and Addiction Program, at 100 Canton Road NW, said there is help available for anyone facing an alcohol- or drug- addiction dependency problem.

"When I first came here in September of 2010, people didn't believe there was a big problem with drugs in the county," said Townsend. "We were seeing three to five people in a group counseling session. They met twice a week.  Now we see 20 to 30 in a group and they meet four times a week."

Townsend said the program, a satellite office of the Tuscarawas County Health Department, completes assessments, individual counseling and more. The large increase in numbers is due in part to the cooperation of the court system. Townsend said they receive many referrals from Municipal Court Judge Gary Willen and Common Pleas Judge Dominick Olivito Jr.

"We have worked very well with the courts and judges and the probation department," Townsend said.

Addiction always seems to start with alcohol, according to Townsend, or at least it is almost always involved. Townsend said he has heard many parents say proudly that their child doesn't do drugs. They say their child might drink a little, but "at least it's not drugs."

"We see everything from cocaine, crack, opiates, spice, marijuana, and heroin. When they are out of one, they'll turn to another," Townsend said. "People think there has been an increase in drugs in the county, and they are right. But it's all about supply and demand. My goal is to eliminate the demand. And the dealers will go away."

With tighter restrictions in place in Ohio for getting prescription drugs, Townsend said people addicted to prescription pain killers can't go to different drug stores or doctors and receive multiple prescriptions. That's when they turn to another alternative, such as heroin.

"It takes courage to change your life and to identify the problem and live in the solution. Alcohol is a drug and the No. 1 problem in the country," said Townsend.

Townsend sees 60 to 80 active clients each week and is continually doing assessments. Many of those he counsels have jobs, but many are unable to hold down a job.

Ages for clients who seek help range from 18 to 70, according to Townsend. He said 75 percent of the clients are men and 25 percent are women. The program does see repeat clients, but Townsend said  he appreciates they are willing to keep working at it.

When asked about his success rate, Townsend replied that if he has the privilege of helping one person change their life, he was 100 percent successful.

"Treatment is a privilege. And everyone deserves that privilege. I hope everyone will seek and receive treatment," Townsend said. "It works and people can recover. The treatment center can truly make a difference in someone's life."

 RULING ON RECENT DEATH

Carroll County Coroner Dr. Mandal B. Haas has ruled that the death of Holly Richards, 21, of Carrollton, who died on Oct. 12, was the result of a heroin overdose.

Three Carrollton men, Kevin Ott, 27, of 332 Second St.; Charles D. Stutler, 21, of 3092 Jasmine Road; and Christopher J. Burris, 25, of 3198 Ivory Road; were arrested for selling heroin in Carrollton.

Stutler confessed to deputies that he had driven Richards to Canton so she could purchase heroin, said Carroll County Sheriff Dale Williams.

Ott and Burris were in the Carroll County jail on a $200,000 cash bond but since have been released on house arrest. Stutler remains in the county jail.

Another young woman, was taken to a Canton hospital, also on Oct. 12, but survived a heroin overdose.

The most recent heroin arrest in Carroll County was David C. Brown, 51, of Salineville. He is accused of selling heroin to an undercover officer and had another brick of heroin in his car at the time of the sale. Brown was in jail on a $100,000 bond but has since been released and is also on house arrest.

Williams said he has seen a huge change in drugs in the county since 2005. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, there were no arrests for heroin in the county. There was one in 2008, three in 2009, six last year, and nine so far in 2012.

"We have seen a big change. Arrests used to be for marijuana. But now these young people are into harder drugs," said Williams. "It's just too easy for them to get it. ... I am committed to putting a stop to it in our county."