Page 11 - Flathead Beacon // 4.30.14

FLATHEADBEACON.COM NEWS APRIL 30, 2014 | 11

Heroin, Meth Use Increase in Flathead Valley

Thre Rives pardon

Heroin proving to be a they can still transfer blood-borne dis- As for heroin, Curry said the task
eases by using the same spoons, cotton force has found a direct link between
Bank is
cheaper alternative to and other drug paraphernalia as other people who abuse prescription opiates,
users.
such as OxyContin, and those who are
prescription opiates
now abusing heroin.
“It’s the equipment and the process

remodeling
Both are opiates, and when prescrip- of getting ready to use the drug,” she
By MOLLY PRIDDY of the Beacon
tion drugs get expensive or harder to get said.
on the street, heroin becomes a more at- Bodick also said she’s seen an in-
Heroin use is on the rise again in the tractive option because it gives a similar crease of people moving back and forth
Flathead Valley, along with an increase high for a cheaper price.
between meth and heroin – using the
to serve in out-of-state methamphetamine, ac- “If you can’t get one, you’ll go for the heroin to come down from the meth, and
cording to law enforcement and health other,” Curry said.
using the meth to get back up from the

oicials.
An increase in heroin abuse is a na- heroin use.
you Bet!
“Yes, heroin’s probably been on the tional trend as prescription drug abuse Given the way that heroin afects
rise the last year or two,” Flathead Coun- continues to grow. According to the U.S. the brain as a central nervous system
ty Sherif Chuck Curry said. “We’re also Department of Health and Human Ser- depressant, too much of the drug can
seeing a lot of meth.”
vices drug use survey from 2012, there make the brain stop sending messages
Curry said the Northwest Mon- were roughly 470,000 people who re- to body to keep the heart beating and to
tana Drug Task Force has had a slight ported heroin dependence, up from a re- keep breathing, and the person dies of
increase in drug arrests lately, but the ported 214,000 in 2002.
an overdose.
OUR IDAHO STREET BANK
IS OPEN WHILE UNDER
amount of heroin and meth seized in At the Flathead Community Health Bodick said many of the clients she
these busts has been much larger than Center, disease intervention special- sees have reported that prescription opi- CONSTRUCTION.
in the past.
ist Linda Bodick has been working with ates are getting harder to ind or aford. MAY 5TH THE NORTH ENTRANCE
Meth was on the decline for a few drug users for nearly 30 years, and is fa- She also said she’s seen a resurgence in
years, Curry said, largely due to more miliar with many in the illicit drug scene the bad skin associated with meth use.
WILL BE CLOSED BUT THE SOUTH
control on the drug’s precursors, such in the valley who have come to her for “Their skin is so broken,” she said.
ENTRANCE WILL BE OPEN.
as tracking pseudoephedrine purchas- sexually transmitted disease testing.
Anyone seeking free STD testing is
PARK IN FRONT OF THE BANK
es. That meant fewer local people could “They’ll come in for testing, and asked to call Linda Bodick directly at OR DIRECTLY BEHIND THE CREDIT
cook meth, he said, but it seemed to have they’ll hear something from out in the 751-8156.
UNION BUILDING TO THE WEST OF
created a vacancy in the market.
neighborhood,” Bodick said. “I’m not “If anybody has concerns and ques-
Where there’s demand, Curry said, having the rush (of people needing test- tions, please feel free to call,” she said.
THE BANK.
there will inevitably be supply, and the ing) that I would like to see for what I’m For more information on drugs and
task force is seeing more and more meth hearing out there.”
their efects, visit www.getsmartabout-
from out of town.
With increased heroin use comes drugs.com, a site from the U.S. Drug En-
“We’ve seen a lot of meth coming out increased use of needles, she said. And forcement Administration.

of Mexico now,” Curry said. “Also from while many of the people she works with [email protected]
Washington state.”
use clean needles, they may not know

Municipal Matters

A recap of recent news from City Hall

KALISPELL
acres that was previously occupied and the city’s intended goals. The
by the McElroy-Wilkins gravel pit list included the city’s support of
•At last week’s meeting, the city operated by Knife River. The chunk a local option sales tax, tax incre-
council unanimously voted to an- of county land has sat largely un- ment finance districts and con-
nex 40 acres of land off Whitefish developed for years and was pur- sisten impact fee legislation. The
chased by the Flathead County city plans to hash out a list of priori-
Stage Road and prepare the site for Economic Development Authority ties in the coming weeks. City staff IDAHO STREET BANK
the potential development of an in- in 2011 with the intent of becoming and officials have expressed inter- 233 E Idaho St.
dustrial rail yard, a pivotal part of
the city’s core area revitalization a railroad-served industrial park. est in hosting a candidate forum Kalispell, MT 59901
plan. Councilors praised the an- The property would connect to an for the upcoming legislative elec- 755-4271
nexation as a smart move for the adjacent spur track running from tion, which could occur in the com-
city and an integral one for the re- the mainline in Columbia Falls that ing weeks as well before ballots are
is part of a bigger network from Se- mailed to voters.
development strategy. The city’s attle, Wash., to Minneapolis, Minn.,
cost to serve the land now that it and Chicago, Ill. The creation of the • The city is undergoing the first stag-
is annexed is estimated at $18,515 rail park is seen as one of the first es of reviewing and setting its fiscal
and the property will generate year budget for the upcoming year. MERIDIAN ROAD BANK
roughly $13,323 in total annual steps toward enacting the city’s At a work session Monday, after the
revenues to the city, leaving a net Core Area Revitalization Plan, Beacon went to print, city staff and 552 N Meridian Rd.
cost to Kalispell of roughly $5,191. which centers on removing the rail- Kalispell, MT 59901
Yet city staff noted in a memo to road tracks from downtown and councilors reviewed four activi- 755-5432
replacing them with a pedestrian ties that present budget challeng-
the council that the potential rev- pathway system.
es: EMS (ambulance), downtown
enues could far exceed that initial parking, forestry and light mainte- A Locally Owned,
cost based on build-out scenarios, • The council held off on establish- nance. The city will review various Independent Community
including $79,715 in net revenue to ing a list of priority issues to pres- service levels and funding for each Bank Since 1974
the city for “50 percent build-out ent to local legislators, opting to of the four.
at the site.” The site features 40.69
spend more time refining the list
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com
www.ThreeRiversBankMontana.com