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The University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Rising Drug Problem in the Carolinas

William Garrison
Technical Communications

Abstract: In my proposal, I am going to discuss the current problems of rising heroin and drug
usage throughout the street of Charlotte, NC.

Introduction: Approximately 8 percent of North Carolina residents reported past-month use of


illicit drugs; the national average was 8 percent. As a direct consequence of drug use, 1,125
persons died in North Carolina in 2007. This is compared to the number of individuals who were
killed in motor vehicle accidents (1,818). The problem is surrounding our city and funneling its
way around the neighborhoods of our youngest generations. Its time for a solution.

Objective:
1) Continue research on the increase of black tar heroin and why this drug has
become so easily accessible.
2) Conduct an interview with a local CMPD officer to test his knowledge on the
spreading of this addictive drug.
3) Determine possible solutions. Hold local awareness programs for young
adults. Increase CMPD authority on the streets.
4) Consider feasibility and cost of those solutions.
Solution: A few possible solutions that have begun to take place is screening for addiction when
medical officials treat patients in all areas of Charlotte. Begin to talk with family members on the
dangers of addictions. Better protection of their highly addictive pain prescriptions, which in this
case, have been utilized to construct black tar heroin. Open a hot line phone number in which
individuals who are struggling with additions may seek professional medical care without the
possibility of excruciating punishment.

Resources: My resources will contain scholarly articles from medical professionals who have
researched the dangers behind black tar heroin, North Carolina documentation of data and proof
of rising use of the drugs, a magazine article from a mother who has seen her son abuse and
loose his life while using black tar heroin, and to possibly conduct an interview with a CMPD
officer who has knowledge of the rising use and selling of the drug in Charlotte, NC.

Outline/Method: Through this proposal I want to bring to light:


-Dangers of the drug.
-Why is the drug so addicting?
-Where the drug can be found.
-How is the drug packaged?

What are the problems that individuals have begun to face while abusing the drug?
-Side affects
-Punishment
-Addiction
What are some possible solutions?
-Hold local awareness programs that could assist those in need of recovery
-Increase tax payer due to promote higher authority in CMPD officers
-Apply more knowledge of the drug use in Medical appearances
-Screen more incoming patients to test for drug abuse and addiction

Schedule: Throughout a 3 week period, I hope to completely bring knowledge and awareness to
the troubles found with this drug. With the help of online articles and documentation, and with
the interview, I seek to find several solutions to ease the spreading and injuries that are occurring
with the abuse and over usage of black tar heroin.

Qualifications: Participated in a 3 week seminar for first aid and CPR training. Also have had
prior experience documenting incoming patients in Medical Record. Mother is employed through
NOVANT Health, who also is aware of the medical dangers behind abuse of Black Tar Heroin.

Cost: By now, most citizens of Charlotte should have had heard of the drug problems on the
streets that may be outside their own bedroom window. With this being said, I hope that many
will invest their own time with further research and voluntary donations to help create a feasible
solution to this issue.

Medical Screening for Addiction: $200


Volunteers/Job for helping with users of drug: $10 an hour/hourly rate (May vary)
Additional tax increase from residents to push forward higher authority of stopping drugs
(CMPD)
Recovery Classes: $150 per client

Feasibility Report

The topic of this discussion is the rising drug problems and addiction throughout the urban
streets of Charlotte, NC. This topic was chosen due to our relative location of Charlotte, and how
the drug has begun affecting young adults and children. The problems that are occurring with
Black Tar Heroin is its availability, the dangers of addition and medical health problems, the
rapid growth of usage, and how destructive the drug can be on a citys economic prosperity.
There are three solutions available to this problem: Promote more CMPD officers and officials to
gain control over this issue through higher tax revenues, utilize medical technology to screen
incoming patients for drug abuse and addiction, and even hold Take-Back Programs that would
allow individuals to dispose of their prescription drugs in a secure and convenient way.

The facts behind Black Tar Heroin


Not only is Charlotte growing in the sense of economic prosperity and population, but Charlotte
has also been the target growth for many drug substances. One in particular has been discovered
as Black tar heroin. This drug is crude and can be easily accessed through its relatively cheap
form of the most addictive drug. CMPD officials have confirmed that Charlotte is in the top five
in the nation for black tar heroin. Through preliminary research, I have come to the conclusion
that prescription drugs are now a gateway drug. Most patients are given opiate oxycodone,
hydrocodone and hydromorphone, which are prescription drugs used to treat pain. However, the
patients young kids or adolescents are finding these prescriptions in their family medical
cabinet, and utilizing their environment to produce one of the leading drugs in the Charlotte
region.

Drug Use Trends in North Carolina


According to the North Carolina drug control update, the most recent survey shows that 7.75
percent of North Carolina residents reported using illicit drugs in the past month. The national
average was 8.02 percent. As a direct consequence of drug use, 1,125 people died in North
Carolina in 2007. In addition, the number of meth lab seizure incidents in the state of North
Carolina increased 32 percent, from 153 incidents in 2007 to 202 incidents in 2009. (S. Rep.
Drug Control Update)

Black Tar Heroin affecting Children


Whether Black Tar Heroin has become cheaper in the form that it is sold, or the drug is
becoming more accessible, the fact of the matter is that it is begun to affect the youngest children
in our generation. Bill Briggs, an employee with Substance Abuse Services, has noticed more
incoming patients who are battling with drug abuse. In fact, the most common form of abuse is
that of Black Tar Heroin. Briggs states that more and more people are dying from this relatively
cheap form of drug, and will dedicate more time helping individuals of all demographics with
addition. ("Charlotte, NC: Trying To Combat Heroin Drug Issues.)
Deanna Uhler, a mother of 21 year old, Alex Uhler, together were facing a major
dilemma. Alex was a straight-A student, an Eagle Scout, and earned a black belt in Taekwondo.
Deanna Uhler asked her son if he would like to help participate moving his grandparents in at
their new home in Texas. However, like most college students would agree, Alex confirmed that
he was too busy. In this case, being busy, was trying to stay on top of a drug addiction that had
grown very large in his nearby Charlotte communities and neighborhoods.

Imagine a substance that feels like a hug. It warms you, quiets your mind, and rocks you
gently to sleep. There is just you and this warmth, and the sensation is almost like being loved,
stated a 27-year-old female heroin addict from south Charlotte. (Heroin in Charlotte Web
Magazine)

Overuse and Overdose


Nationwide, the number of people abusing or dependent on heroin has more than double
in the past decade, according to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. IN the metro area
covered by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg police, there were 32 overdoses in 2011, 55 in 2012, and
73 in 2013, says CMPD Lt. Nathan King. Of those 73, at least 15 resulted fatal. Buying heroin in
Charlotte is similar to ordering a pizza. Phone numbers of dispatchers float around the city. Bob
Martin, director of the Mercy Horizons substance abuse treatment center, did a study of heroin
clients zip codes: Mint Hill, Matthews, Ballantyne and Raintree. (Heroin in Charlotte Web
Magazine) Although the drug is attracting mostly young adults and children, lawyers and nurses
also struggle with this epidemic.

Solutions to Overcome Black Tar Heroin Growth and Effects

Hiring more CMPD Officials


One of the more effective solutions to fight the growth of Black Tar Heroin is to fight for more
CMPD officers and officials. These individual are not hired to ruin ones day through speeding
tickets or license checks, but rather protect our streets and the community they serve. In July of
2009, the police department received $8.5 million in federal stimulus money as part of the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This process will add nearly 125 officers to
the existing force, which can be utilized to control crime and drug rates. (Rivenbark) By
continuing to add on officers, it will promote more individuals with jobs, as well as protect and
promote safety in Charlotte for our families and incoming tourist.

Medical Screening
Screening, Brief Intervention, and Referral to Teratment (SBIRT) is an evidence based
praticedused to identify, reduce and prevent problematic use, abuse and dependence on alcohol
and illicit drugs. (SBIRT) The SBIRT model was incited by an Institute of Medicine
recommendation that called for community-based screening for health risk behaviors, including
substance use. By utilizing SBIRT, professional health care physicians can quickly and
effectively screen incoming patients for drug addiction. This process will not only identify users
of the drugs, but can also send the patients back with resources to seek help and recover from
their addiction. Without this process, incoming patients will continue to be handled and given

additional medicine, which can be used to construct more black tar heroin and similar illicit
substances.

Take-Back Drug Programs


Through National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day, individuals of all communities come
together to dispose of unnecessary prescription drugs that they no longer use. This program aims
to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while
also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Congress has
found that nonmedical use of prescription drugs is a growing problem in the United States,
particularly among teenagers. Violent crime and drug abuse has increased in all regions of the
United States in the past 5 years. In 2010, the Federal Drug Administration issued the Secure and
Responsible Drug Disposal Act, welcoming all citizens of local areas to dispose of their no
longer used or empty drug cartridges. With Charlotte being such a large target for Black Tar
Heroin, volunteers of our city should propose a promise to get involved with this program. By
utilizing the resources of local pharmacy reps that are on site, our own community can take
charge and make a change of this crude drug problem.

Conclusion
Black Tar Heroin is such an unforgiving drug that is brutally changing our community
and our youth. Without any accountability from our city, the abuse will continue to climb into
our own families and loved ones. There is still a long road ahead, but the outcry has already
caused many political figures and officials to enter the fray for omitting such illicit drugs.
Through more abundant CMPD officers, SBIRT Medical Screening Technology and even the
Secure and Responsible Drug Disposal Act, we can make a change. If people keep reaching out
their suggestions, and maintain the desire of revolution, Black Tar Heroin will no longer bring
hurt and suffer to our economy.

Sources: Feasibility Report

Title: Rising Drug Problem in the Carolinas

Reasoning of Source Selection:


For my proposal and feasibility report, I have chosen to establish solutions for the expanding use
of Black Tar Heroin among the streets of Charlotte, NC. In fact, the illicit drug has now found its
way into the hands of our youngest generations. Through the five research sources that I have
listed and described below, I will present the problem and several solutions to overcoming this
occurring issue. From academic sources, magazine articles, an interview, and State
Documentation, I will describe the dangers of the drug, and the descriptive reasoning on why its
occurrence needs to be omitted. The sources below document the most astounding statistics and
first hand experiences with the drug. It is now time to propose solid resolutions, before the
resolutions are too far to grasp.

Bradford, Ben. "WFAE." WFAE. 90.7 Local News, 26 Apr. 2013. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

This source above has credit my on research with new information on how the drug has evolved
over the years. The document was constructed off the basis of medical professionals who have a
general idea on how the black tar heroin has started from over the counter pain killers. Also, the
authors demonstrate just how easy it is for adolescents to access ingredients for black tar heroin
in a place much of young adults are familiar with. I hope to use this article to create an image for
all readers, and a feasible solution to the problem of black tar heroin.

Briggs, Bill, and Yvonne Ward. "Charlotte, NC: Trying To Combat Heroin Drug
Issues." YouTube. YouTube, 14 Dec. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

This source above does an exceptional job demonstrating the awareness of what is now
becoming an epidemic in the Queen City. WCNC published their latest video on YouTube, just
for knowledge of residents and individuals within the Charlotte community. News officials say
heroin is a growing concern on the streets of Charlotte, a most can find it easily assessable.
Charlotte is trying to combat the raising drug issues, as it may begin to affect the children in your
own household. I have chosen to utilize this source for more research information, and a quality
news source to prepare for a solution to this problem.

"Drug Disposal Information." Resources -. Office of Diversion Control, 2010. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

I will utilize this source with reasoning of one of my sources. The Drug Disposal Act of 2010
will ensure that all prescription drugs are donated successfully to eliminate any future use and
transformation of the drugs.

Rab, Lisa. "Heroin in Charlotte." Web Tags. Charlotte Magazine, Mar. 2014. Web. 17 Mar. 2015.

Deanna Uhler, a mother of 21 year old, Alex Uhler, together were facing a major dilemma.
Deanna Uhler asked her son if he would like to help participate moving his grandparents in at
their new home in Texas. However, like most college students would agree, Alex confirmed that
he was too busy. In this case, being busy, was trying to stay on top of a drug addiction that had
grown very large in his nearby Charlotte communities and neighborhoods. Five days later, things
changed for Deanna, as her son took his last breath due to a drug overdose. As sad as the story is,
Deanna wanted to publish the story to inform others of her heartache that she had to experience. I
will use this magazine article published by Charlotte Magazine, to inform individuals of the
growing drug problems in charlotte, and how to protect yourself from the harm and trouble of
getting addicted.

Rivenbark, Jeff. "CMPD to Hire 50 New Officers." - WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic
for Charlotte, NC. WBTV- On Your Side, 28 July 2009. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

I have found this source to back up one of my three solutions that I will propose. It shows how
officers are hired and where the money is coming from.

"SBIRT." / SAMHSA-HRSA. SAMHSA-HRSA, n.d. Web. 31 Mar. 2015.

The SBIRT is a medical screening process that looks for addition in all patients. This source will
help clarify how it could be a possible solution to the Black Tar Heroin growth in Charlotte NC.

S. Rep. Drug Control Update at 1-7 (2009). Print.

North Carolina leading officials published this documentation in 2009 to inform the community
on the growing drug problems in charlotte since the beginning of 2007. This informative
document clearly states numerous statistics and information on how the trend continues to
expand here in Charlotte. Through the 7 page document, there are charts and various other data
that demonstrate the rapid growth of the drugs, and where in Charlotte the drugs are being
targeted. This official documentation will help tremendously with my readers wanting to know
exact statistics. North Carolina is in the midst of drug problem, but with your help and superior
education, the citizens can help be the main cause of this arrest on drug abuse.

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