The Indiana State Police Headquarters Laboratory is sharing the attached news release about the dangers of heroin adulterated with fentanyl drugs.  This release was issued Friday by the American Association of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD).

The American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) is issuing an
urgent public alert regarding the dangers posed by drugs currently
circulating America’s streets and neighborhoods as a result of the current
opioid crisis.

This alert is intended to help the public recognize and avoid
suspicious materials when they are nearby.

“The threat is unprecedented,” warns ASCLD President Ray Wickenheiser. “Some of the clandestine substances being sold or made accessible have formulations that are so toxic that it’s better to consider them poison.”

The street drugs the public may be exposed to can be so dangerous that
even trace amounts can be fatal when ingested, inhaled or even absorbed
through the skin.

Carfentanil, a drug 100 times more lethal than fentanyl and 10,000 times more lethal than morphine, is used to tranquilize elephants, yet is now available on the streets.

A lethal dose is approximately 20 micrograms, which is about the size of a grain of salt. The problem is so serious that it requires scientists working in crime laboratories across the United States to take additional special precautions to protect their own safety.

According to Wickenheiser, approximately 94% of all crime laboratories in the United States compile and share data pertaining to drug evidence submissions.

“Crime laboratories see and identify a variety of drugs, compiling statistics from across many law enforcement agencies. There is a direct relationship between the kinds of drugs we are seeing in our laboratories and the spike in overdose deaths being reported in hospitals across the country.”

ASCLD warns members of the public to pay close attention in order to recognize and avoid dangerous drug paraphernalia.

Drugs seen in America’s crime laboratories are often packaged, transported, and used with common household items.

Items to be avoided include:

• Pills, tablets, or unidentified candy
• Powders, especially those that are white or gray in color
• Glassine (wax paper) packets, small knotted plastic bag corners or ziplock bags
• Clear capsules that contain powder
• Rubber balloons or condoms
• Small, brightly colored packages
• Syringes or spoons
• Stickers or labels that seem out of place (potent drugs may be on the adhesive side)

The following crime lab data underscore the nature and severity of the problem:

• In the first six months of 2017, there was a 19% increase in opioid submissions to crime
labs as compared to all of 2016
• In 2016, there were over 22 different types of fentanyl (a powerful opioid pain
medication) identified in crime labs
• 2017 has seen a 54% increase in fentanyl cases submitted to crime labs
• Between 2012 and 2016, laboratories have witnessed a 6000% increase in fentanyl
cases. This increase corresponds directly with the overdose deaths being seen
nationwide.
• Case backlogs have increased by roughly 28% in the last year due to the increasing
case submissions, case complexity and danger of the drugs now being seized by law
enforcement

Forensic scientists working in America’s crime laboratories have seen first-hand, the kinds of materials and containers that may pose the greatest threat. This public alert is based on their direct experience observing and analyzing these dangerous drugs.   

Street drugs laced with fentanyl pose life threatening consequences to the user as well as medical and police personnel that respond to a person who has overdosed on fentanyl laced drugs.  These drugs also present significant risks to police laboratory professionals who must analyze these toxic drugs.

For more information about fentanyl drugs from the Indiana State Police, visit http://www.in.gov/isp/labs/2535.htm

For more information about ASCLD, visit http://www.ascld.org/

An emergency rule signed Friday by the DNR, filed with the Natural Resources Commission and the Legislative Services Agency, states the following:

“Rifle cartridges that were allowed in previous years on public land for deer hunting are allowed on public land again this year during the deer firearms season, the reduction zone season (in zones where local ordinances allow the use of a firearm), special hunts on other public lands such as State Parks and National Wildlife Refuges, and special antlerless season.

This means that the rifle cartridge must fire a bullet of .357-inch diameter or larger, have a minimum case length of 1.16 inches, and have a maximum case length of 1.8 inches if used on public land. Full metal jacketed bullets are illegal.”

For more information on rifle requirements for deer hunting on private land, visit wildlife.IN.gov/7389.htm and click on “Equipment.”

The Orleans Chamber of Commerce is finalizing plans for its upcoming
Annual “Christmas on the Square” event set for December 9 from 5 to 7 p.m.

The Chamber is still looking for any school and community performing groups and individuals to perform holiday music during the community event.

The Chamber also welcomes the participation of any civic clubs or local groups in hosting or sponsoring an activity on the square that evening.

Groups may schedule times by contacting Robert Henderson at historicorleans@netsurfusa.net or by calling the Chamber Office 812 865-9930.

The Santa Claus, Indiana, Post Office has selected the 2017 special picture postmark for the upcoming holiday season.

On Friday, December 1, the post office will begin offering the picture postmark to cancel the postage stamps on holiday mail again this year.

This famous small-town post office is the only one in the world with the Santa Claus name and receives over 400,000 pieces of mail in December – compared to only 13,000 pieces of mail per month the rest of the year. This special picture postmark has been offered every Christmas season since 1983.

Each year, the holiday postmark is designed by a local high school art student as part of an annual contest.

This year’s artist is Audrey Vaal, daughter of Rodney and Agnes Vaal of St. Meinrad, Indiana. During her time at Heritage Hills High School, Audrey was involved in art, choir, Beta Club, National Honor Society, dance, and Spencer County 4-H. Audrey is in her freshman year at the University of Southern Indiana to study elementary education, with an emphasis in social studies.

“The Santa Claus holiday postmark has become the most popular in the nation over the past two decades,” says Postmaster Marian Balbach. “Postal patrons worldwide request the picture postmark each year and many customers traditionally drive hundreds of miles to personally obtain the famous cancellation on their holiday mail.”

She asks anyone interested in getting the special cancellation on their holiday mail to follow these guidelines:

• Allow at least a 2-inch by 4-inch space in the stamp area for the picture postmark;
• Apply postage to cards or letters before bringing or mailing them to the post office;
• If you wish to mail Christmas cards to the post office, package them – with postage stamps already on them – in a sturdy envelope or box, and mail to: Postmaster, Santa Claus Station, Santa Claus, IN 47579-9998;
• The picture postmark is available on working days between December 1 and 23;
• The picture postmark must be requested by the postal customer;
• To ensure a good postmark imprint, do not enclose large or bulky items in your holiday mail (Ex: reindeer food, snowflakes, glitter, stickers, etc.);
• There is no charge for postmarking; however, there is a limit of 50 picture postmarks (hand cancellations) per person per day.

Santa Claus, Indiana, will host a celebration of family fun on the first three weekends of December. Santa Claus Christmas Celebration events include Chestnut Roasting, Christmas Dinner with Santa, Writing a Letter to Santa, and more each weekend. In addition, special events include Dancer’s Dash 5K on December 2, Santa Claus Arts & Crafts Show and Santa Claus Parade on December 9, and the Christmas Lake Village Festival of Lights on December 9 and 16. Find details about all upcoming events at SantaClausInd.org/Events.

Wednesday at approximately 4:15 pm, the Indiana State Police and Jackson County Sheriff’s Department responded to a two vehicle personal injury crash on US 50 at County Road 1050 West that ultimately claimed the life of a 50 year old Ohio man.

The initial investigation by Troopers Jacob Tolle and Matt Holley, Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team, indicated that a white 2013 Freightliner semi pulling a flatbed trailer, being driven by Christopher M. McClain, age 24, Merrillville, Indiana was traveling westbound on US 50. 

A red 2013 Volvo semi pulling a box trailer, being driven by Jerome M. Sharkey, age 50, West Chester, Ohio was traveling eastbound on US 50.

As both vehicles passed through a construction zone where bridge replacement was taking place, the vehicles struck each other in the roadway.  McClain’s flatbed trailer struck the cab of Sharkey’s vehicle entrapping Sharkey in his vehicle.  He was extricated from his vehicle and transported to Schneck Medical Center in Seymour, Indiana.  Sharkey was later transferred to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis, Indiana where he later passed away as a result of his injuries.  McClain was not injured in the crash.

At this time, the investigation is ongoing to determine which vehicle crossed the centerline and why the crash occurred.  Alcohol and drugs are not believed to be factors but toxicology tests are pending at this time.

The Starkey family has been notified.

Troopers Tolle and Holley were assisted by Trooper Michael Thiron, Indiana State Police, Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, Seymour Police Department, Jackson County EMS, Brownstown Fire Department, Carr Township Fire Department, Driftwood Township Fire Department, and Owen Township Fire Department.

By Steve Davisson, Indiana Representative, House District 73

Recently, a symposium focused on prescription drug abuse was held in Indianapolis to examine critical and emerging topics related to this public health and safety crisis. 

The program was a statewide collaboration of industry professionals and leaders from public, private and nonprofit sectors. This type of cooperation is necessary in order to create impactful solutions to prevent prescription drug abuse. While our nation continues to explore how to most efficiently tackle this epidemic, Indiana leaders are taking this issue very seriously.

Prescription drug abuse is a problem found in all parts of the state among people of all ages, races, genders and incomes. In 2016, nearly 64,000 people in the United States died from drug overdoses, in which half were opioid related. In Indiana last year, drugs killed more than 1,300 people.

Medication assisted treatments are becoming an increasingly important tool in treating substance abuse. This type of treatment combines therapy with the use of medication to help individuals manage withdrawals and triggers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute on Drug Abuse and the World Health Organization have all accepted MATs as effective treatment options for substance abuse. While research has also confirmed MATs work, some people are still wary. The reluctance comes from the perception that MATs are simply swapping one substance for another. Ending this stigma may be the biggest obstacle.

In Indiana, Boone and Dearborn counties are addressing addiction in a different way by targeting those who are incarcerated. Many jails throughout the state are facing the issue of overcrowding. By shifting the focus from incarceration for nonviolent drug offenses to rehabilitation, communities can deal with both overcrowding and addiction. The Dearborn County Jail Chemical Addiction Program fights addiction in our communities. Participants in the program stay for a minimum of 90 days in a designated location exclusively for them. Placing participants in a less hostile environment and away from potentially harmful influences helps keep them on the right path. The Boone County Jail has a similar program. Over the years, these programs have had great success saving lives, lowering recidivism rates, and improving the health of local communities.

To save more lives, the state has distributed multiple naloxone kits to community agencies, first responders and other health care providers. Naloxone, also called Narcan, can reverse opioid overdoses and revive people who otherwise may die without the immediate treatment.

But once people are saved, they need to take the next step to recovery. Indiana recently launched Next Level Recovery, which is an online portal for all state resources addressing the opioid crisis. This site provides a comprehensive, community-based and proactive plan of attack against the epidemic. At www.in.gov/recovery, those facing substance use disorders and their families can find resources about recovery without jumping from site to site. There is also data for health care professionals, emergency personnel, law enforcement and community leaders.

This problem will not disappear overnight. Drug addiction is a complex disease and often involves addressing a number of risk factors in communities and individuals, and there is no single perfect solution. However, Hoosiers are committed to developing strategies to take on this issue and saving lives.

If you or someone you know is misusing prescription drugs, please remember that this should only be treated by a health care professional. To find a treatment facility near you, visit www.in.gov/fssa/dmha or call 1-800-662-HELP.

As always, please contact me with any questions, comments or input you may have at 317-232-9648 or h73@iga.in.gov. I appreciate hearing from you in order to better represent our district. Stay up-to-date with the work being done at the Statehouse by signing up to receive my email updates atwww.in.gov/h73.