Almost 40 people were arrested the past week from age 18 to 54 for dealing heroin and perscription narcotics. Many of these people allegedly sold large amounts of heroin and presecription narcotics to high school students and young adults in Prince William County and western Fairfax County. Law enforcement noted how easy it was for young people to score drugs, often in retail store restroom, gyms, grocery stores, pharmacies and people’s homes.
Prince William County Law enforcement was alerted when there were a series of overdoses in the Manassas area, in particular, the overdose deaths of Matthew Mittong and Mindy Weakley. PWC 1st Sargeant Hess said that they couldn’t figure out how young people were making the transition from prescription drugs to heroin. According to the Washington Post:
Hess said police have found large numbers of local high school students, some as young as 15, who were regularly buying and using opiate pills before switching to heroin because it is cheaper and more accessible.
Police are concerned that teenagers are trying drugs such as Percocet, Vicodin and OxyContin at parties thinking that because a doctor prescribes them they must be safe. Soon, Hess said, those teenagers are increasing their doses and later moving to heroin. “That false sense that it is okay can lead to very bad things very quickly,” Hess said. “Before long, they’re on the corner buying heroin. It’s a sad transition into the abyss.”
According to the News and Messenger:
In addition to heroin and prescription drugs, investigators said they also found cocaine, anabolic steroids, marijuana and guns.
Investigators said undercover officers were key in helping to identify who was selling the heroin, and prescription drugs. During the investigation, police said undercover officers made at least 50 purchases of heroin and prescription medication.
In addition to the houses raided in Dumfries and Woodbridge arrests were also made Tuesday in Dale City, Lake Ridge, Manassas, Nokesville and Springfield. [ED note: highlight mine]
All parents need to be aware this latest sting. The drug use seems to be ubiquitous. The article indicated that the drug use in this article was recreational and not the kind of use one associates with skid row and extreme poverty. In fact, many of the kids involved were very middle class. Click for the full story.
No parent can assume that their child would never. That is dangerous thinking. Many kids simply do not realize their own immortality or vulnerability until it is too late. Drugs rob people of their dignity, their status, their health, their families, their education and their careers. They turn decent people into liars, sneaks and thieves.
A list of all those arrested will be printed in the Wednesday edition of the News and Messenger.
