NCPD say heroin usage on the rise in Nassau
Yesterday, May 8, Nassau County officials hosted a meeting with local school district superintendents and principals to talk about the alarming increase in heroin use among Long Island teens.
The Nassau County Police Department, District Attorney, Health Department and County Executive Tom Suozzi asked local school officials to attend a meeting at Police Headquarters about the rise in heroin use by teens in towns you would least expect. The main purpose of the meeting was to inform school leaders of the recent rise in heroin usage and its signs, symptoms and deadly effects. After county officials spoke, parents of teens affected by the drug added their real-life experiences.
Between January 2007 and April 2008 the Nasau County Police reported that 41 aided cases related to heroin in NCPD Patrol areas; with 12 occuring in the Massapequas (Massapequa, M. Park, North M.), 3 in Seaford, 2 in Wantagh and 1 in Merrick. Almost 50% of all aided heroin cases came from the 7th precinct; a precinct known for low crime and affluent neighborhoods.
There were 150 heroin possession arrests across the county last year; a 50% increase from 5 years ago. Police say the increase is due to the new purity of heroin which now can be snorted, instead of injected. Also, some drugs are costing as little as $7.
Nassau County Police Aided Cases related to heroin from 1/1/2007-4/19/2008:
Atlantic Beach- 1
Franklin Square- 5
Great Neck- 1
Hewlett- 1
Hicksville- 2
East Meadow- 4
Levittown- 1
Long Beach- 1
Manhasset- 1
Massapequa- 5
Massapequa Park- 6
North Massapequa- 1
Merrick- 1
Mineola- 2
Oceanside- 1
Oyster Bay- 1
Roosevelt- 1
Seaford- 3
South Farmingdale- 1
Wantagh- 2
These are only the ncpd cases; other areas with their own pd are not listed
To learn more about the drug Heroin go to the National Institute on Drug Abuse at www.nida.nih.gov/infofacts/heroin.html
