When drug task force officers serve a search warrant at a suspected drug house, they’re likely to come across a number of syringes.
“The numbers are going through the roof,” said Officer Shane Melton, a member of the Kokomo Police Department’s Drug Task Force.
“In one search warrant, we found 50 to 100 syringes,” Melton said.
“We found them in a Coke bottle, wrapped up in a napkin, under the bed – they’re hiding them everywhere.”
Whether it’s to shoot heroin, usage of which has increased in recent years, meth, cocaine or prescription drugs, users are injecting narcotics at a higher rate, which in turn increases the risk of contracting hepatitis or HIV. Rampant drug abuse and sharing needles has caused an outbreak of HIV infections in southern Indiana, bringing a statewide problem to light.
A Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention fact sheet issued last month found at the time of admission into a substance abuse treatment program, 21 percent of people in Howard County admitted to having abused heroin and 16 percent of people were addicted.
While Seldon was not able to provide specific numbers of heroin-related arrests, he did say, “There has been a rise in heroin arrests in the last few years.”
An August 2014 report by students at Indiana University analyzing Indiana State Police drug lab data found Howard County sent more of the drug to the lab to be tested than many other counties. When accounting for population, Howard County was in the top 10. According to their research, Howard County sent 77 cases for analysis in 2013, compared to just nine in 2008.
Heroin isn't the only drug that's being injected.
Robert Salinas, head of the KPD's Drug Task Force, said prescription pills, cocaine and methamphetamine are all being injected by drug users, increasing the risk of spreading blood-borne illnesses.
In a quest to halt pill mills, the Medical Licensing Board of Indiana recently received the 2015 AIM Best of Boards Award for adopting opioid prescribing requirements for physicians. Last year, Don Wagoner, head of the Wagoner Clinics in Kokomo and Burlington, began serving a two-year sentence after pleading guilty to 20 charges related to over-prescribing narcotics.
“Opiates and heroin go hand-in-hand,” Salina said, though he would not say definitely whether the closure of the clinics has contributed to the rise in illegal drug use.
“Heroin was already here when that started," he said.
In any case, the increase in intravenous drug use has another consequence for law enforcement.
Seldon said officers are coming into contact with more people in possession of a syringe - and chances are pretty good it's been used.
That’s why when officers make an arrest or question a possible suspect, they always ask if the person has anything sharp in their pockets like a weapon or needle to make sure the officers don’t stick themselves.
And it’s just not here. There’s been a statewide and nationwide increase in heroin use, said Robert Salinas, head of the KPD's Drug Task Force.
“It’s an epidemic,” he said.
Salinas said the increase in the presence of heroin in recent years can be largely attributed to the drug being made in Mexico instead of Asia, which used to be the main supplier worldwide for heroin.
The increase is due to drug smugglers in Mexico growing their own poppy plants, which makes heroin, he said.
“It’s becoming more affordable.”
Being high on drugs or alcohol can lead to bad decisions, Salinas said. Risky behavior, such as having unprotected sex, also contributes to the transmission of disease.
“It all comes down to making the right decisions.”
To combat the rising numbers of HIV and hepatitis cases in southern Indiana, a needle exchange program was instituted. The program allows people to receive enough needles for one week based on reported drug use. Participants are also provided with thick plastic boxes called “sharps” containers to collect needles after they are used. Users are asked to bring their used needles to exchange for clean ones.
While some maintain the program enables drug users, Salinas said research shows needle exchanges have proven effective in reducing blood borne illnesses. On Tuesday, Gov. Mike Pence signed legislation authorizing Indiana counties to institute needle exchange programs to combat outbreaks of HIV and hepatitis C. The state's health commissioner must first declare a public health emergency.
Right now, Howard County doesn’t have such a program. Users don't need a prescription to purchase needles in the state, but would be required to sign a registry. That's likely a deterrent for drug users, even though in many cases being caught with a syringe isn't a felony.
A charge of unlawful use of a syringe applies only to legend drugs - mainly prescription drugs and steroids, Melton said.
Street drugs like heroin, cocaine and meth are not included in the law.
“We can get them on reckless possession of a syringe, but that’s just a misdemeanor,” he said.
“Hopefully, the legislators will fix that.”
Police stressed intravenous drug users must be diligent in preventing transmission of blood borne illnesses.
“Never use or share a syringe that’s not sterile,” said Salinas. “If you’re going to make the decision to use needles, go to a pharmacy or someplace reputable to get your needles.”
In addition to the needle exchange program in Scott County, Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill last month that immediately allows Indiana residents to get and use Narcan, a opiate overdose antidote. The measure is aimed at giving law enforcement and families of addicts greater access to the drug in hopes of reducing the overdose deaths from heroin and opiates.
“We’re looking it into,” said KPD Chief Rob Baker said of using Narcan.
“We have to look at the cost and training aspect,” he said. “If we could find the funding, it would be nice to have it. If it would save one life, it would be worth it.”