TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Fentanyl use has become a nationwide crisis that touches nearly everyone.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse said overdose deaths involving fentanyl and other synthetic opioids have spiked over the last five years killing more than 60,000 people in 2022. Terre Haute Police Department’s Chief Kevin Barrett said that what is so incredibly dangerous about fentanyl is that sometimes users don’t even know they are taking it.
“We are a little bit behind the trend, but we are doing everything that we can to try and curtail that and combat that from becoming that kind of a problem here,” said Barrett. “The problem is that. The issue is that almost every illicit or illegal drug that is being taken on the street right now is coated or combined with fentanyl.”
THPD’s Assistant Chief of Police Matthew Rains said that this leads to overdoses and tragic deaths.
“You can take one pill that you are used to taking every day and then you take one the next week and it can contain ten times the amount that you are used to taking and that is when people overdose,” said Rains. “They take the same one or two pills, but the amount is so much more potent that they overdose and don’t even realize it.”
Rains said that this is why they try to stop dealers before they can even make it to Terre Haute.
“We target drug organizations that are trafficking large amounts of narcotics in Terre Haute,” said Rains. “Our biggest combatant against that is we have to get those drug dealers out as soon as they get into Terre Haute. If someone has a large quantity and we can stop that before it gets delivered to Terre Haute as it is coming in, we can federally prosecute those people so that they will be in prison for a long time, that will deter other people from trying to do that.”
THPD’s Public Information Officer Justin Sears said that they are seeking the harshest penalties available under the law.
“It starts immediately no matter what time of the day it is,” said Sears. “Dealing resulting in death can lead to some of the most serious charges that somebody could face. We then work with our federal patterns and the prosecutor’s office to make sure that those punishments are sought out.”
Others, like Drug Free Vigo County’s Treasurer Brandon Halleck, are working with users to help them find a better path.
“It is not as simple as just say no but how to say no and how to avoid those,” said Halleck. “We are also looking at the social aspect of it with children how those relationships that they have whether it is with friends or family, how does that impact as well. Especially when those kids get into middle and high school, how does that friend aspect play a role in some of the issues that we have sometimes.”
THPD’s social worker Jarom Hawker said his job is all about ensuring that people know there is help and hope even in the midst of darkness.
“That has always been my thing, no matter who you are, you have value, you matter, and you are a person,” said Hawker. “That is always the message that I want to send and what matters most to me is that you are where you want to be and are comfortable. We are working to get them to where they want to be and who they want to be because that is the most important thing.”
Sears said the work that goes on every day can be easier if people come together.
“We can’t do our jobs to the best of our abilities without the assistance of the community,” said Sears. “We are only 138 strong but we can get up to over 100,000 strong with the help of the community. If you see something, say something. You can call us, reach out through social media, and we have tip lines on our website. All you have to do is tell us and let us know and we will investigate it.”
Saving a Generation: The Fentanyl Crisis will be running simultaneously tonight at 7 p.m. on WTWO and WAWV and Julie Henricks will be covering the crisis throughout the week on Good Day Live.
