New Trier has its problems. Some are big. Others are small. But this one is frightening.
It goes by the nicknames H, Skag, Smack, Dope, and Mud. It comes in a little plastic baggie. It’s gotten cheap, only about $10 a bag now. New Trier’s newest, and possibly scariest, problem is heroin.
According to a document published by the Wilmette Police Department, “[the department] has witnessed an increase in heroin use among young adults in the community. We have seen an increase in calls involving drug overdoses related to heroin, criminal incidents related to heroin use, and –unfortunately– heroin related deaths.”
In the past three years, Wilmette has had four heroin-related deaths. “Two overdose deaths occurred in the village, one in 2010 and one in 2012. Both of these deaths occurred at residences. Two other deaths occurred in Chicago but involved young adults who lived in Wilmette but traveled to the city to get high,” the document stated. The Wilmette Police has also made over a dozen heroin-related arrests in each of the past two years.
Kristine Schmitt is the Student Assistance Program Coordinator at New Trier and organizes prevention and intervention programs for both of the campuses. The Student Assistance Program develops prevention and intervention strategies to support New Trier students and the community.
Schmitt is concerned by the rising reports of usage. “Any use is a problem. Heroin as a substance affects their [teenagers’] brain/physical and emotional development,” she explained.
Physically, she continued, heroin suppresses the central nervous system, and the user would have a ‘cloudy’ mental function. They also breathe at a slower rate, and a person who uses can experience respiratory failure. Another dangerous effect of heroin use is the highly addictive nature of the drug. Since it is an illegal drug, it can be laced with other drugs that can cause an accidental overdose.”
Katherine Schindler, the Assistant Principal for Student Services, has witnessed these types of addictions first hand. “In my experience, I have seen several students who have had heroin addictions. When I was an administrator at Lake Forest High School, we had two students die from overdoses.”
The Wilmette Police Department understands the reasons behind the increase in heroin use. “Frankly, heroin is cheaper and more readily available to our youth now than in any time in our recent history. Perhaps more significantly, young adults do not comprehend the destructive nature of this drug,” the document stated.
The Wilmette Police Department held an informational forum on heroin, a “Heroin Education Forum” at the Wilmette Public Library, on Jan. 9 to educate parents about the warning signs of heroin use and raise awareness of the rising problem in the community.
Schindler has also dealt with the destruction the drug leaves behind. “When you are in the presence of a student who is even trying to recover from a heroin addiction, it is incredibly painful to see and I will say it is the scariest thing I have seen in my career. So, it worries me a great deal that that drug is becoming easily accessible in our area.”
The Student Assistance Program is aware of the rising usage. “I am familiar and have had discussions with our local community agencies with regards to the issues of our young adults that have struggled with heroin use and the deaths that have been recently reported in the paper,” Schmitt said.
“We are trying at NT to prevent and intervene at all levels of use. We