Town meeting urges community action against drug abuse

Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of three articles about the growing use of drugs in Aroostook County.
In 2005 in Maine, nearly 14,000 people were treated for substance abuse. According to the Office of Applied Studies, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, nearly half of those treated were between the ages of 12 and 30. This does not even account for those who did not seek treatment. Thousands of Mainers are in trouble, and it’s time to face the drug abuse head on.
“Community leaders in Presque Isle have combined forces to take a proactive approach to substance abuse problems,” said Tom Stevens, Presque Isle city manager. “We have a plan to work together in a positive, practical way. But we’re going to need the help of the entire community.” To that end, they have scheduled the Star City Town Meeting – Community Action Against Drug Abuse. The May 8 meeting is part of an ongoing and combined effort or many community leaders.
Committee members say it’s awfully easy to assume or hope there is no substance abuse problem or that it is under control. But the facts say there is an issue, and preparedness is the key to gaining control. It’s also easy to assume the problem begins in the school system; but here it seems not to be the case.
School officials, local law enforcement, and hospital administration all agree that the most pressing problem is the abuse of prescription drugs among adults. People do not always realize that prescription medications are powerful drugs. They can impair driving ability, cause health problems, and can lead to addiction. Prescription drug abuse has silently risen to become one of the most serious prevention issues in the United States, in Maine, and in our local communities.
According to David A. Peterson, president and CEO of The Aroostook Medical Center, the typical overdose situations are not really a growing issue. Most abuse,  he said, begins with recreational use of prescription medications.
“Right now, people with real or imagined pain need or want narcotics. These are legal drugs, but they do end up in the market place and eventually in the wrong hands,” explained Peterson. “There is no precise age group or economic group, this problem affects all kinds of people in many communities.”
Prescription drugs like OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet, are classified as narcotics, analgesics or opiods. They are drugs that are prescribed for moderate to severe physical pain. They are abused because of their euphoric, sedating, and numbing effects. Narcotic abuse causes tolerance and dependence and the withdrawal symptoms are severe. Other abused drugs include depressants like Xanax, Valium or Librium; and stimulants like Ritalin, Dexedrine, and Meridia. An estimated four million people age 12 and over are abusing prescription drugs, including many in our own communities.
The problem is growing, and the hospital has taken steps to track and stop what they term “drug seekers” – people who hoard prescription drugs for recreational purposes.
Peterson’s hope is that attention to this issue is the key to stemming the tide of drug abuse. To that end, the Town Meeting will provide information from several perspectives: prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and education.
What do committee members hope to get across at this meeting? It’s simple, and maybe you’ve heard it before. But listen carefully this time, because it is your community. According to Peterson, “We are not immune from drug-related problems. We cannot ignore the problems and hope they go away. Now, let’s find the will and the energy to address the problems.”
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear from experts regarding prevention, treatment, law enforcement, and education, as well as the opportunity to ask questions and find resources. Most importantly, attendees will learn what to do about drug abuse.
The Star City Town Meeting – Community Action Against Drug Abuse is scheduled for Tuesday, May 8 beginning at 7 p.m. at the Presque Isle Middle School.
Next Wednesday’s story will focus on how the school system is proactively addressing drug abuse in our community.