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Two men from New York City were arrested for selling heroin in the county in January. In December, a county corrections officer administered Narcan to two teenage girls who were overdosing on heroin.
No one knows more about the epidemic than Steve Salomone, a Carmel resident. He and his wife, Susan, lost their son, Justin, to heroin in 2012. The Salomones, along with Lou and Carol Christiansen founded Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, community-based program offering education and opportunities for families and addicts struggling with addiction.
Salomone said the organization has been assisting people to allow them to stay in rehab and has hosted Narcan training sessions.
"There's an incredible amount of coverage and awareness about the problem," Salomone said. "They've been talking about it in schools.
Parents often don't think their child could have a heroin problem, Salomone said
"They are always shocked that it's their kid," Salomone said. "People now understand that heroin is prevalent in middle- and upper-class bedroom communities. But parents think it's happening to my neighbor and not me."
Putnam County offers a Drug Treatment Court program. The two-year program is an alternative to jail where the offender works with various people to break the cycle of abuse, addiction and crime.
Recent graduates of the program included Mahopac resident Jason Fell, who served in the U.S. Marines. Fell became addicted to heroin after being wounded in action.
Fell said he turned his life around because of the treatment program and now works for a home improvement company.
“Through the past couple of years I found a life worth living for," Fell said.
State Sen. Terrence Murphy, (R-40th District), who represents part of Putnam, was recently named one of the chairs of a State Legislature joint task force on heroin and opioid addiction.
In January at a forum, Murphy unveiled his seven point plan to combat heroin in the area.
On March 5 at 7:30 p.m. at Mahopac High School, Drug Crisis In Our Backyard, in association with District Attorney Adam Levy and the Mahopac High School PTO will be hosting "Protecting Our Youth: A Conservation About Drugs and Alcohol." RSVP by contacting ssal@aol.com or mhspto11@yahoo.com.
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