Some eye-opening statistics on the local drug epidemic were shared during a
presentation to Potter County Commissioners Doug Morley, Paul Heimel and Susan
Kefover. Colleen Wilber, director of drug and alcohol services for the county,
confirmed that abuse of opioids – including heroin – has eclipsed alcohol in
referrals to her agency. She hastened to add that alcohol abuse remains a
serious problem. There has been a significant increase in heroin overdoses in
Potter County, some of them fatal, Wilber said.
She pointed out that a larger proportion of clients than ever, some 89
percent, are being referred by the criminal justice system for addiction
assessment and treatment. Others are through self-reporting or are being
referred by Children and Youth Services. While opioid use and abuse is
pervasive, she added, her office has noticed an increase in the diagnosis of
methamphetamine as a primary drug of choice, as well as a consistent rate of
chronic marijuana use. Wilber detailed a series of steps her agency and the
legal system have been taking to address addiction issues, ranging from
treatment courts and evidenced-based school programs, to prescription take-back
boxes and making more effective use of data collection and analysis.
Courtesy of Potter County Today
