Valley faces methadone troubles

Illegal use of the drug has increased, some officials say.

By TIM YOVICH

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

NILES — The death of a 20-year-old prisoner from an overdose of methadone highlights the abuse of a drug designed to curb opiate use.

Police Chief Bruce Simeone said Wednesday that the April 15 death of Christopher C. Leach is the third in the city this year attributed to methadone. “We’re having a terrible time with it,” he said.

Methadone is used to curb the craving for such drugs as heroin and is also prescribed for acute pain.

“We can’t keep track of it. We don’t have the manpower,” said Jeff Orr, commander of the Trumbull, Ashtabula, Geauga Law Enforcement Task Force.

The Trumbull County Coroner’s Office has ruled the death of Leach, of Judyth Street, Weathersfield Township, an accident because of acute methadone intoxication.

According to the coroner’s finding, Leach was arrested about 3 a.m. April 15. Simeone said Leach was arrested in connection with a home invasion.

The coroner reported that Leach did not wake for either breakfast or lunch after being jailed. When he didn’t respond for dinner, the officers became concerned and called for emergency medical services.

The autopsy did not show any evidence of significant trauma.

“The levels of methadone found are in the reported lethal range ... ,” the coroner reported, adding that there were no additional drugs found and “this is clearly a drug-related death.”

Nonetheless, Simeone said an internal investigation is ongoing concerning the jail’s policies and procedures. No changes have been made in current policies and procedures.

The chief said all prisoners are asked when being booked at the jail if they have taken any illegal drugs. Leach told police he hadn’t, he noted.

“I wish he would have talked with us.” Simeone said.

Use increasing

Those who investigate drug peddling and those who dispense methadone say illegal use of the drug has increased.

“We see lots of methadone,” Orr said, noting he has had two cases this month.

He explained that in some cases physicians are prescribing methadone rather than OxyContin as a pain reliever. “The doctors aren’t paying attention to their patients,” he said.

Tablets called “wafers,” because they are so large, sell for $20 to $30 each on the illegal market, he said.

Orr said he sees many people ill because of methadone. “They think they can tolerate it, but they can’t,” he said.

Meridian Services Inc. in Youngstown, which operates methadone clinics in Mahoning County, has seen a significant increase in heroin addicts using methadone. Jim Evans, Meridian’s chief clinical officer, agreed with Orr that more physicians are prescribing methadone for pain.

In fact, he noted, the Veterans Administration is prescribing methadone almost exclusively to treat pain because it’s cheaper.

Amy Zellers, director of Meridian’s methadone program, said its clinics give methadone in the liquid form, rather than a tablet or pill, because the dosage can be better adjusted and the staff can watch the clients take it. Those with no experience in taking opiates, Evans said, can become sick with an overdose of methadone that can result in death.

yovich@vindy.com