Sheriff, Congresswoman Announce Heroin Initiative

Sign up for the Ashburn Patch newsletter!

Release: Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office

U.S. Rep. Barbara Comstock, R-10th District, in conjunction with Loudoun County Sheriff Mike Chapman, joined Fairfax County Police Chief Edwin Roessler Jr., Leesburg Police Chief Joseph Price, Virginia State Police Capt. James DeFord, representatives from the DEA and FBI, State Sen. Jennifer Wexton and various members of the Community Services Board and Loudoun County Public Schools to announce the formation of a regional Heroin Operations Team (HOT) in Northern Virginia.

The HOT initiative is in response to a growing regional and nationwide heroin epidemic. According to the Centers for Disease Control, fatal overdoses of heroin across the country have nearly tripled since 2010. In Loudoun County, the number of fatal heroin overdoses nearly doubled in the past two years, from six in 2013 to 11 in 2014.

The Heroin Operations Team will address the rising use of heroin and related overdoses in and around Loudoun County. HOT will employ a comprehensive approach that will include enforcement (at all levels), education and prevention by incorporating local, state and federal law enforcement; the Loudoun County Public Schools; the Loudoun County Department of Mental Health, Substance Abuse and Developmental Services; and other entities within the Community Services Board.

More on Patch:

• Dog Awakes Family, Helps Them Escape Fire
• Two Ashburn Men Charged in Home-Invasion Robbery
• Police: Hotel Room Drug Bust Is One of Largest in Loudoun History

Recognizing this growing epidemic, Comstock said she reached out to Sheriff Chapman to work together on local efforts to curb heroin use and abuse.

“We recognize no community is immune to this epidemic. Sadly, those getting caught up in this are often in their 20s and 30s and they don’t realize what an addictive and dangerous drug this is, and how much stronger the heroin on the street is than it has been in the past,” Comstock said.

“We must ensure as a community that we educate and inform and do everything we can to get this poison out of our community, and stop those peddling it and help those caught up in this deadly drug,” she added.

Chapman, a 23-year veteran of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), extended the initiative to his partners in law enforcement to develop the regional Heroin Operations Team.

“The initiative will require a proactive approach, including education on the dangers of heroin and opioid drugs,” he said. “The heroin initiative will include a partnership with the community, which is an important step to address the heroin epidemic in Northern Virginia.”

As part of the outreach and enforcement efforts, local representatives announced a series of initiatives, including a public roundtable discussion to be held in May. The forum will explore the resources needed to address the growing heroin problem in our community, and promote open discussion on efforts we can take as partners in the fight against heroin abuse.

Other initiatives include:

• Development of a toll-free Heroin HOTline where residents can seek help.
• Establishment of a multi-jurisdictional task force that will take a collaborative approach to pooling resources and coordinating investigations or user/drug rings.
• Formation of a community and law enforcement partnership dedicated to stopping the heroin epidemic in Northern Virginia.
• Coordinating public education and outreach to raise public awareness on the dangers of heroin and drug use.
• Continue an aggressive approach on prescription drug abuse, which heroin users often cite as the gateway for use.