An article by Tom McKay, Dearborn / Ohio County Prosecutor’s Office
Dearborn County CASA, Ohio County Drug Free, President, Indiana Drug Enforcement Association

Recently, a young man, from a good family in our community, after a series of bad decisions, found himself in the hospital in dire condition, the victim of a heroin overdose. Yes! Heroin, right here in Ohio County! I heard comments from people across all segments of our local society, shock, amazement, disbelief, this can’t be true!… But IT IS!!!
Believe it or not there is a significant drug problem in Southeast Indiana, of which Rising Sun and Ohio County are a part. We may be the smallest county in the nation, but that does not make us exempt.
The problems of the rest of the world may not be as evident here as in other places, we tend to care about our neighbor and try to help each other where we can. We have a great network of churches and civic organizations that can, and will lend a hand to those in physical, financial, and spiritual/emotional need. This being said, the reality is, all types of drugs are readily available on the streets of our community. Persons so inclined can purchase, marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine, methadone, a vast array of prescription medications and yes, even heroin within minutes of making the decision to do so.
This is not a problem we created, but we do have to deal with it. Law enforcement across America is overwhelmed with drug related crime. Some estimates indicate that as much as 75 to 80 percent of all crime in America is driven by drugs, whether it be a theft to obtain drugs or money to buy them, personal injury or death as a result of drug use or competing drug dealers, or domestic violence fueled by drugs or alcohol abuse.
Our police cannot win this battle alone, we need the help of the citizens of our community, parents, grandparents, students, school administrators, teachers, and civic leaders.
Educate your children to the dangers of drug use, educate YOURSELF!
Know what your children are doing and who they are doing it with.
Thankfully, the young man I mentioned above survived, unfortunately a few days later another local man did not. Heroin was not involved in that incident, but regardless it was drug related.
All this may sound to you like the ramblings of someone who only wants to spread gloom and doom in our fair community. But if that is what it takes to lessen the impact of drugs here and maybe save the life of one child, so be it. If you try to do the right thing every day, you WILL BE criticized for it, but it’s a small price to pay in the end. Abe Lincoln said once, “You cannot escape your responsibility for tomorrow by evading it today”.
So “Get your head of the sand”!, keep your eyes and ears open and report any suspicious activity to your local police or Sheriff’s department. Sometimes the smallest bit of information can make a difference and help to close an investigation. Pressure on drug offenders is very effective, we should all do our part. As for the critics, most of them know the right thing to do, they just don’t have the guts to do it! Take a stand you’ll feel better about yourself and you just might save a life in the process.