Rise of Heroin Overdose Deaths Not Just a Big City Problem

There were a lot of people who were more than a bit taken aback by news reports of a substantial rise in overdose deaths attributed solely to heroin use in Milwaukee County, from 9 percent in 2002 to 24 percent in 2012. In cases where the fatalities were linked to mixed drug cocktails, heroin’s impact jumped from 14 percent to 32 percent during those same years.

Let’s just say these numbers did not surprise me one bit because of what I see on a day-to-day basis in Waukesha County.  Ever since I left the DA’s office a little over five years ago, I’ve seen an explosion of heroin and opiate overdoses.  It doesn’t surprise me in the least that heroin has surpassed other types of overdoses.

In so many cases, the roots of a heroin addiction can be found in cases where the user has become addicted to legal prescription drugs.  What often happens is the user runs out of doctors to “shop” for additional prescriptions and they run out of money to afford legal medications. At that point, they turn to the easily accessible and significantly cheaper alternative which is heroin.

I would say that the vast majority – and I believe the Waukesha County DA’s office and most of the judges who hear these types of cases would back me up on this – that the high percentage  of heroin overdose deaths are the result of initial prescription opiate usage.

Compounding this entire tragedy is the fact that entirely new generations of people are being introduced to the deadly drug heroin. Recently, I was in court for an opiate related case and the judge at that time said that, just within the previous day, she had actually signed a warrant because of another heroin overdose in Waukesha County.

She went on to say that morphine and many other opiates are the “kissing cousins” of heroin. They’re all opiates and they’re highly addictive.  I think everyone needs to be aware, either for themselves or for loved ones that are being prescribed these types of medications, that when it becomes so addictive that people are having withdrawal symptoms, are isolating themselves, things are missing around the house, or they go through substantial amounts of money, these are typical types of behavior for opiate addicts.  That’s the time when intervention and help are necessary.

What people must always remember is that there are so many cases where well-meaning prescription opiate users are “trying to help a friend” by giving them these types of drugs. They’ll say, ‘My friend was dope sick and I gave him some of these pills.’  If the user dies and that particular drug is a substantial factor in the death, the well-meaning friend is going to be charged with reckless homicide. 

The stakes are high and this isn’t just a Chicago-Milwaukee problem. This is a nationwide epidemic which affects cities and towns large and small all over America. Remember: you might honestly believe you are just helping a friend in need by giving them some of your prescription medications but, in the end, your motives won’t matter in a court of law.

About Attorney Mark Powers
Attorney Mark Powers is a partner at the criminal defense law firm of Huppertz & Powers, S.C. in Waukesha. Previously, Powers served as an Assistant District Attorney with the Waukesha County District Attorney's office and is currently serving as a municipal judge in North Prairie. He focuses in the area of criminal defense, and has handled many cases involving operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, domestic disputes, and drug offenses.

Powers attended Valparaiso University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate. Prior to law school, Mark attended the University of Wisconsin, Lacrosse where he received his bachelor of science in Political Science.

For more information, please call 262.549.5979 or visit www.waukeshacriminalattorneys.com.