By Kimberly Gasuras
Over the past week, there were at least six overdoses in the Bucyrus area, although not all were opiate-related.
According to Bucyrus Police Chief Dave Koepke, one man was experiencing delirium after using K-2, an illegal synthetic form of marijuana.
“One guy said he overdosed on cocaine. We are not sure, but he did have a crack pipe in his possession,” Koepke said.
Police assisted the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office with one overdose that happened outside of the city limits and three overdoses in the city were due to opiate use, including fentanyl-laced heroin and Xanax.
Two local drug dealers were sentenced in Crawford County Common Pleas Court this week for their role in distributing heroin laced with fentanyl.
Heather Grasley, 30, was sentenced to nearly five years in prison while her boyfriend, Joseph Phillips, 31, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison.
Koepke said there is still hope in what seems a dire situation when it comes to the drug epidemic that has plagued the area for the past several years.
“We have many good people in our city that have stepped up to help and there are resources available to help those who need it,” Koepke said.
One of those programs is the police department’s own Operation Hope, which is part of the Police Assisted Addiction and Recovery Initiative.
Koepke said on Monday that more than 60 people in Crawford County went into treatment instead of jail through the program. This week, two more people contacted the police department for help with their addictions. The police department assisted two local residents on Tuesday with placement in drug rehabilitation facilities through Operation Hope.
Koepke encourages those with a drug addiction to seek help.
“Anyone can call the police department and ask for help with their addiction and we will get them that help,” Koepke said.
Koepke said Operation Hope relies on its volunteers to assist in the process of getting people into treatment.
“Recently, several of our volunteers received their training and certification as recovery coaches including Robin Michael, the leader and founder of the local chapter of the Guardian Angels.
“As a Guardian Angel, I was already coaching people and looking for resources prior to joining forces with Operation Hope. Knowing people fear going to jail, becoming a Recovery Coach offers them the opportunity to seek help without fear, and it allowed me the training to better my skills and have an expanded pool of resources to help,” said Michael. “Anyone who is ready to take that first step toward recovery can reach me at 419-689-4188 by calling or texting.”
For more information, call the Bucyrus Police Department at 419-562-1006.