After seeing widespread and growing concern, Schoharie County supervisors have pledged to take a stronger stand against heroin.
Their call to action follows several heroin-related deaths earlier this year and demands from residents at recent meetings.
Carlisle Supervisor Larry Bradt, at the November 18 county board meeting, said he has seen suspicious activity in several parking lots in the county.
He wondered if more undercover officers were needed.
"It takes money," responded Sheriff Tony Desmond.
He noted that the county received $2,500 through the office of Assemblyman Peter Lopez for education and overtime, but more funding is needed.
Undercover coverage could be done, but only with an outside person, Sheriff Desmond told supervisors.
"We have to give the Sheriff some ammunition," urged Broome Supervisor David Simkins.
The emphasis, noted Bill Federice of Conesville, has to be on the sellers.
Undersheriff Ron Stephens urged residents, "If you see something, write down the plate number and call the tip line." The tip line number is 295-2295.
"Let them know we're serious about this," Schoharie Supervisor Chris Tague added.
He urged the board to contact Assemblyman Lopez, state Senator Jim Seward, incoming Congressman John Faso and hold a press conference in Albany about the problem.
Supervisors heard pleas earlier this month for more police coverage to help fight the ever-growing heroin problem.
Police patrols need to be increased, Middleburgh resident Larry Kossmann-Nelson told supervisors at their November 18 meeting.
In September, his brother's restaurant, M&J's Café in Middleburgh was burglarized. Later that day, Michael Kossmann collapsed and later died.
"Heroin is here in this area and it indirectly killed my brother."
At a recent Middleburgh meeting about drug problems, it was said that there are no Sheriff's official patrols from 1 to 5pm and only one State Trooper car in the county.
"That's simply archaic," Mr. Kossmann-Nelson said. "We need to evolve with the times."
The county, he added, needs to be more proactive. He urged more funds for the Sheriff's office to increase patrols.
"It is essential to have coverage and meet these challenges head on."
Tina Sweet, commissioner of the Department Social Services, said the drug problem is hitting the department hard, noting that the foster care caseload has doubled.
Though there is no "hard and fast number" on the number of heroin users in the county, Deputy Zach Reinhart told supervisors, he noted that emergency squad members and police have had to administer Narcan, which helps prevent a heroin overdose, more times this year.
"We've saved at least 12," he said, though at least five or six people have died from overdoses, several in a short amount of time this summer. At least two have died in Esperance, one in Summit, and another in Richmondville.
There is a way to end the problem, he told supervisors.
"Treatment is end of the cycle," he said. "Law enforcement is the vehicle to get treatment."
Bonnie Post, the director of the county's Mental Health Department, agreed with Deputy Reinhart.
"This will not be fixed with incarceration, but with treatment."
The cycle of heroin has to be broken, Ms. Post told supervisors.
If that cycle is not broken, the fear is that this generation will be lost and there will be a profound impact on the next one.
"We have to do something."
Ms. Sweet urged parents to "talk to your children. 'Don't take that first pill.'"