Suffolk panel takes testimony on heroin problem

Recovering heroin addicts, treatment experts, and parents whose children have died of overdoses, were among those who testified last night to a panel at the Riverhead legislative auditorium.

Among the topics discussed were the frustrations over the lack of proper funding for treatment and prevention as well as the availability of health insurance.

The Suffolk County Heroin and Opiate Advisory Panel, which held the meeting, was formed by the legislature last year after statistics showed a sharp increase in the use of heroin and abuse of opiates among the county's youth.

The group, made up of treatment experts, legislators, school officials, health care professionals and others involved with youth or drugs, will come up with a plan which they will recommend to the legislature solutions for prevention as well as treatment and recovery, especially for youth.

Eddie Balzer, who spoke about the death of his son, Brian, 22, last year from heroin, said education in the classroom with kids is essential.

"My son represents many, many kids out there," he said.

Other speakers' ideas included training teachers and parents in injecting drugs to reverse overdoses, pushing in more educational programs, improving transportation for students to attend outpatient programs, media involvement, making drug companies fund prevention programs much like tobacco companies do, having an "LI Drug Testing" month and using social media to reach teens.

"Families are organized differently now," said Christine Epifania of the Alternative Counseling Services with offices on the East End, adding that treatment experts are "working with models that are passé."

Despite the lack of detoxification beds and other funding issues, some applauded the state's attempt to corral data on heroin and opiate users while also troubleshooting insurance issues for both providers and individuals.