The heroin and fentanyl epidemic

Thursday, February 13, 2020

First responders in the city have handled 20 heroin and fentanyl overdoses since Jan. 1, which Jennings Police Chief Danny Semmes said is the equivalent to nearly one overdose every other day.

“The heroin and fentanyl epidemic is getting to a point where cases involving those narcotics alone are taking up a considerable amount of time when it comes to arrests and emergency services,” he said. “I am in no way saying that we cannot handle the level of problems these drugs create in our community, but I am saying that this is an epidemic.”

Semmes said keeping the deadly chemicals out of the city is easier said than done considering that the majority of heroin and fentanyl are coming from outside the U.S.

“What doesn’t come from China through the mail comes up the pipeline from Mexico,” he said. “The stronger strains of fentanyl are essentially elephant tranquilizers.”

Jennings police have also encountered “gray death,” heroin laced with synthetic opioids.

“We take all the extra precautions we can when we encounter narcotics to protect law enforcement officers and emergency services,” Semmes said. “Basically police officers handling any unknown substances have to wear gloves and a mask.”

Caution is also being used when deploying a K-9.

“Using the dogs when heroin or fentanyl is present is a risk that has to be taken, unfortunately,” he said. “However, handlers are vigilant and our dogs are passive alerters. They will sit when they have detected narcotics and not try to get to the substance. Still, we know the risks just a small amount of heroin or fentanyl can bring.”

The chief said while part of law enforcement’s job is to arrest individuals suspected of committing a crime, an important focus of theirs is to help those in throes of addiction find help.

“We want this stuff off the streets, we want people to get help,” he said. “If you come across any type of drug, please call us right away. We can only get this under control with the community’s help.”

Louisiana is struggling under the weight of the drug epidemic. In an interview with WAFB out of Baton Rouge in October, East Baton Rouge Parish Coroner Dr. William “Beau” Clark said, “We’re starting to see that trajectory of overdose deaths going in a direction where it has the possibility of surpassing homicides, as well as motor vehicle crashes too.” That same month, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Drug Enforcement Agency indicated Louisiana was one of 20 states with the highest numbers of fentanyl-related deaths.

The heroin and fentanyl epidemic is getting to a point where cases involving those narcotics alone are taking up a considerable amount of time when it comes to arrests and emergency services.” – JPD chief Danny Semmes