Spiraling downward: Drug use in Odessa on the rise
By Audris Ponce, Odessa American, Texas | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
"Illegal drug transactions are problem here and in every city across the country. They play a significant role in much of the violence we've seen recently,"
Burton referred to the city's current oil boom, saying the amount of money that is being made in the industry attracts a large segment of young men that are "statistically more prone to those kinds of behaviors."
"The economic environment means there is money," Burton said. "There is cash flow in the city of
Drug arrests made by OPD totaled 772 in 2012, 883 in 2013 and 248 so far in 2014, according to figures provided by OPD. The offense with the most drug arrests was for possession of marijuana, with 313 arrests made in 2012, 303 made in 2013 and 114 made so far in 2014.
Marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamine were the most-seized drugs by OPD from
In that timeframe, 136.21 pounds of marijuana, 14.17 pounds of cocaine, 5.84 pounds of methamphetamine and 5.2 pounds and 7.48 ounces of heroin were seized by
The
Federal agents arrested 16 people in connection with a multi-state methamphetamine distribution operation allegedly run by a 41-year-old
In addition to the arrests, Glaspy said more than 11 pounds of methamphetamine and
According to a news release, if convicted of the federal offenses, those arrested could face between 10 years and life in federal prison; between five years and 40 years in federal prison; or up to 20 years in federal prison, depending on the charge.
"The local guys are definitely a tremendous asset because they know people here," Donaldson said. "We know that meth has increased in the county."
Emergency drug calls
From
Synthetic drugs are manufactured without organic materials with promises to mimic highs from marijuana, cocaine and methamphetamines.
"Thomas" was 14-years-old when he took his first Xanax pill. Eleven years later, Thomas is now a patient at
Thomas, 25, from
His addiction to the prescription drug grew, and by the time Thomas was 18, he would drive to
"I'd go to
Thomas started selling Xanax for
"They would favor me. There are even a couple of credits I remember getting through the medication," Thomas said. "Everybody wanted them. It's a chill pill. You like the way it feels because it makes you feel calm."
Thomas said that Xanax pills are now being sold for
The first sign Thomas saw of the drug's toll on his body was memory loss.
"That was my first red flag. I wanted to slow down but at that point your body gets used to it. It's horrible on your mind, physically and mentally," Thomas said. "I'd be in class and get up to go to the vending machine and just go blank. You sit there and get the phone, dial the first two numbers and go, "Whoa."
Thomas tried to detox himself of Xanax this year and said he remembered curling up in a ball for five days. "In the sixth day of not eating and sleeping and insomnia, I started throwing up blood and I panicked," Thomas said. He sought the help of a doctor, who referred him to
"My first three days I was mad at myself and God. I asked, 'Why did you do this to me, why did you put me through this? I didn't pray. Slowly and surely -- no one forced me to- but slowly He came back...not that He ever left -- I went back," Thomas said. "I started thanking Him for helping me get through it. I spent a lot of these days praying and it helps a lot. Right when you think no one's listening."
More seeking help
Turning Point Program Director
"When I came through in 2007, it was more 75 percent alcohol and 25 percent drug addiction. In the past two years it has shifted," Houston said. "We've seen an increase in meth with a lot of our clients, especially in the last six months that I've been here, but our biggest offenders are prescription medications."
The facility has a waiting list with 42 people that is extended out to the middle of June.
"We work with the persons who have lost their jobs, their housing -- their lives are pretty much destroyed," Houston said, adding the facility takes in indigent patients and let them pay what they can. "Addiction affects every family in town -- a brother or cousin that is affected by addiction. If you ask the average person in the street they are either related to or known someone with addiction issues."
The detox program takes an average five days and 35 days for rehabilitation treatment. Cocaine and methamphetamine users take four to five days to detox and heroin and alcohol need five to seven days, Houston said. "The withdrawals are harder." The facility has taken in patients from the eight surrounding counties, Houston said, who have no insurance.
Houston said
The facility has licensed chemical dependency counselors and staff who work with patients in counseling sessions and coping skills classes.
"We're working on family dynamic groups and trying to help those persons integrate back to society with the skills of functioning without alcohol or drugs," Houston said. "Almost everyone that comes in has family issues. It's not just them that are hurting when they're using and abusing but they're hurting their families."
At
"Being here, the train of thought they drill in your head is that you don't need it, it's not necessary. On that seventh day something hit. I wanted to be here, I saw how much I changed in seven days and I remember thinking to myself, 'Well, I wonder what can happen in 30," Thomas said. "This is a turning point in my life."
Contact
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