East End heroin task force to combat heroin addiction announced

As the war on heroin heats up, local lawmakers have created a new East End Task force to help tackle the epidemic.

On Monday, New York State Senator Ken LaValle, Assemblyman Fred Thiele and Assemblyman Anthony Palumbo announced  the formation of a new Heroin Addiction Legislative Task Force, or H.A.L.T, with a focus on identifying causes and solutions to fight the growing heroin epidemic.

The first meetings of the task force are set to begin in May.

“The increase in heroin use has reached alarming levels and we need to take action to address this critical situation,” LaValle said. “A broad-based East End approach will help us to identify areas where we can be productive in combating the scourge of heroin and other opiates. The initial meeting will be the first in a series that will assist us in determining the types of resources that are needed on the East End.”

Added Thiele, “The widespread use of, and addiction to, heroin and other narcotics and opioids on the East End is extremely alarming. Individuals, families and entire communities have been turned upside down. We must stand up and start to do more to address this crisis. I look forward to working with Senator LaValle, Assemblyman Palumbo and the entire East End community to address the need for additional treatment and prevention options.”

Palumbo said a targeted approach is critical. “As a former narcotics prosecutor in the Suffolk County DA’s office, I have seen firsthand the devastation that drug abuse reaps upon the lives of those affected. Drug addiction is often a catalyst for the commission of violent crimes, up to and including murder. This is an issue that ripples into the greater community, and it is critical for us to meaningfully address it in the form of real solutions that will be proffered by this task force.”

The intent of H.A.L.T. is to involve every level of stakeholder from the East End and formulate a comprehensive plan to help combat the heroin issue. Town supervisors, village mayors, town and village justices and law enforcement representatives will included at the round table discussions.

Later meetings are also slated to include counselors, treatment groups and other providers to obtain different viewpoints.

The goal is to come up with a comprehensive plan to “attack the abuse and provide necessary treatment services with a wide combination of approaches,” according to lawmakers.

The announcement of the new task force follows two major heroin ring busts in recent months. In February, Suffolk County District Attorney Thomas Spota announced the arrest of those dealing “Hollywood heroin” in locations including Route 58 in Riverhead; last month, a Holstville couple and others, including a Riverhead dealer, were nabbed and charged with selling “High Octane” heroin across Suffolk County.

“Today’s heroin bust in Holtsville was huge,” Susan Toman of the Guidance Center in Southold said last month. “It was the central connection for heroin dealers on Long Island, Dealers from key areas in Suffolk County would pick up their heroin supply to distribute to their territory; the bust included a Riverhead connection.”

Toman said on the North Fork, “We have seen a rise of heroin use over the past few years. Local emergency volunteers have had to utilize Narcan to save the lives of young people who have overdosed on the heroin distributed. Young people have died, families have been broken up, wives have lost husbands and husbands wives. Children have lost their parents, and some parents have lost their child due to this heroin connection. The heroin from this connection has caused havoc.”

Looking at statistics, Toman said no heroin use was reported among local high school students in 2006, according to the Bach Harrison Survey. “In the 2012 survey our North Fork youth are indicating they are experimenting and using heroin. The use is at a very low percentage — but any use is totally unacceptable.”

The actual percentage of teens experimenting with heroin is under five percent, Toman said. “Hopefully it will be zero percent in 2014.”

The task force and heroin busts “will hopefully stop the sale of heroin in our community, and shut down the main distributors before any more damage can occur,” she said. “One day, with prevention education and law enforcement, and strong community support from families, businesses, spiritual leaders, schools, reporters, seniors, and youth leaders, community fraternal and secular groups, and medical and treatment providers — no one will lose their life to underage drinking or substance abuse.”