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Heroin
addiction: A vicious cycle
By Bob Robinson
“We keep our guns locked up, but not our prescription medications. We
teach sex education, but not drug education…”
Tonya Alton, a paramedic with Versailles Rescue and Fundamentals of Communication student at
Edison State Community College, Darke County Campus, considers the drug
problem an epidemic. “It’s already at epidemic proportions in Dayton,”
she said, “but not quite here in Darke County… yet!” She noted this was
based upon data formulas for sample populations.
“My goal is to stop it before it gets here,” she said. “If anybody
gives me the opportunity to talk about it, I’ll jump at it.”
Alton got the opportunity at a recent Kiwanis of Greenville meeting.
She made one point clear: “Nobody grows up wanting to be a druggie.”
She shared three stories…
A young baseball player had the opportunity to reach the minor leagues.
He chose to finish college first. During this time he had an accident
and was prescribed opiates for the pain. He couldn’t play ball. He
became depressed… and dependent.
A 19-year-old girl moved 11 times in 12 years. She had no friends. She
became depressed… and dependent.
A young boy was molested by a family member. He wanted to fit in, but
his mom couldn’t afford to get him into sports. He became depressed…
and dependent.
“A big question that seems to keep popping up,” Alton said, “is about
Narcan. Why don’t we just let them die?” That’s an ethical issue, she
told the group. “My thing… stop it before it gets to be a problem.”
In her profession as a paramedic her job isn’t to ask why, or what, for
that matter. “I can’t ask if someone is on drugs… I can ask if someone
is high (for responsive action). I come with a white flag. I don’t care
what you’ve done.”
Heroin is a synthetic to opiates. “That’s today’s problem,” Alton
noted. “In 20 years we’ll likely be having the same conversation… it
could still be heroin or it could be something else.”
Pointing out that just as a small population of alcoholics can be
rehabilitated, she believes the same of a small population of heroin
addicts. Her preference, however, is prevention.
“Teach coping mechanisms,” she added, referring to depression and the
other factors leading to addiction. She also noted there is an effort
to use alternatives to opiates for pain control.
The goal… reduce addiction.
“Heroin is everywhere,” Alton said. “Even in a small village like
Versailles… population 2,000. It is a vicious cycle. To stop it we need
education.”
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