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Norwalk, Connecticut, Alcohol and Drug Addiction Information
Norwalk, Connecticut has a population of 82,951 with an average household size of 2.511 and is located in Fairfield County. Norwalk was chartered as a town in 1651.
Once nicknamed, “Oyster Town,” Norwalk is Connecticut’s largest oyster producer and host the annual Oyster Festival.
Norwalk is home to the Maritime Aquarium, several museums, three Lighthouses, and parks for recreation.
Norwalk Connecticut’s Drug Source
The DEA (The US Drug Enforcement Administration)2 reports that heroin and cocaine in powder and crack form are the greatest drug threats in Connecticut. Located in close proximity to NYC, Connecticut is an important transit and destination area for drugs. Interstate 95, the major north-south route on the East Coast, extends along Connecticut’s southern shore through Stamford, Bridgeport, New Haven and New London. It connects New York City with Boston and continues to the U.S. -Canada border. Interstate 91 extends from New Haven north to Massachusetts, Vermont and the U.S. -Canada border. These interstates intersect in New Haven and from what is known by law enforcement as the New England Pipeline. (And Interstate 84).
Cocaine
Cocaine is still a popular drug of choice and still widely abused in Connecticut, with crack historically preferred over powder, although powder cocaine has recently experienced a surge in popularity among wholesale dealers due to the lower wholesale price of powder cocaine from New York-based suppliers.
heroin
Demand for heroin remains high and is easily accessible. Popularity of heroin is due, in part, to increased availability of low cost, high purity heroin that can be effectively snorted or smoked rather than injected. Abuse remains widespread, affecting both suburban and urban areas.
Marijuana
Marijuana can still be obtained throughout Connecticut. The majority of high grade marijuana available in Connecticut comes from either Canada, out of state indoor grow operations, Mexico, and or the Southwest areas of the U.S. Marijuana is readily available in the state of Connecticut for individual use and available in multi-ounce/pound quantities for wholesale distribution.
pharmaceuticals
Diverted pharmaceuticals such as OxyContin, Vicodin, Oxycodone, Hydocodone, Methadone, Ritalin, Xanax and Diazepam, are highly abused in Connecticut. The diversion and abuse of prescription opiates such as OxyContin, Vicodin, and Percocet are increasing rapidly. Diverted pharmaceuticals typically are obtained through common diversion techniques including prescription fraud, improper prescribing practices, “doctor shopping” (visiting multiple doctors to obtain prescriptions), and pharmacy theft. Local independent dealers and abusers are the primary retail-level distributors of diverted pharmaceuticals in Connecticut.
The Dwindling Spiral Will Continue
One thing is for certain, for a drug addict, the dwindling spiral will continue on its downward path unless action is taken. NOW is the time to do something before the addicted person winds up in jail or dead of an overdose or accident. Unfortunately past failed attempts to overcome addiction only further depress the individual so it comes as no surprise that fear and hesitation.
In the city of Norwalk, there is an increased need for effective drug and alcohol rehab and addiction treatment centers as drug and alcohol use continues to escalate. Drug use erodes the quality of life not only for the user, but for their families and communities. Marriages and families are torn apart by mistrust, betrayal, fear and anger. Careers are ruined; companies lose millions of dollars in lost production time; cities and suburbs become degraded by the increased crime and violence that goes with drug trafficking and drug addiction. To do nothing for the addict, should not be an option. Something can be done; help is available.
Norwalk Area Drug Related Arrests
December 26, 2008, The Norwalk Citizens News ran this story online: “Norwalk Students Sell Mixed Drinks on School Bus” Principal Linda Sumpter said the three students who sold drinks on the bus to at least 20 other youths will be disciplined, but she would not say how. She said she has met with the students and their parents. The students were not turned over to police.
“This is huge,” said Sumpter, who sent a letter home to parents this week. “I can’t remember the last time a student has done that here, and certainly never to these proportions.”
Middle school students were caught drinking alcohol they had brought from home mixed with juice, iced tea and Gatorade, and selling the bottles for as much as $2 each to other kids on the school bus, school officials said.
Sumpter said she was tipped off by a parent last Friday.
Sumpter said she informed the superintendent’s office and is looking into whether other students were involved.
(full news story)
December 31, 2008, The Connecticut Post ran this story online: “Drug Dealer Gets 20 Years in Prison.” A high-ranking soldier in a prolific heroin operation whose product hit city streets in bags stamped with names like “Son of Sam,” “Helta Skelta” and “Son of Sam,” will spend the next 20 years in a federal prison.
Edgar N., 37, whose street name is “K,” formerly of Palisades Street in Bridgeport, stood before Senior U.S. District Judge Alan H. Nevas Tuesday as Nevas imposed a 240-month sentence followed by 10 years of supervised release for N.’ role in a Fairfield County heroin trafficking ring.
N. was a lieutenant in Edwin S.’s drug organization, an enterprise that, by N.s’ own admission in court, put out at least 30 kilograms of heroin. The drugs they distributed had a conservative street value of at least $3.75 million. Those 30 kilograms of heroin would be cut up and packaged into much smaller glassine bags, and would have amounted to about 750,000 bags of heroin distributed throughout Fairfield County.
(full news story)
The Damage to Society
In the State of Connecticut, and specifically in the city of Norwalk, the effects of drug and alcohol abuse goes way past the the damage done to the addicts themselves. In terms of time lost on the job, to the health system inundated by illness and overdoses to communities harmed by the crime rate caused by addicts looking to steal anything in order to get their next fix, to families living a nightmare as they watch helplessly as their loved one goes further down the chutes. The rollercoaster of emotions, concern and anger seems like a never ending ride the abuser puts his friends and family through. Failures in the past with drug rehab centers further numb the addict to any hope of a future without drugs. It truly can appear hopeless.
Treatment Center Changes Needed
Just in the state of Connecticut, there are many different types of drug rehab and treatment facilities. In the United States, there are thousands of drug rehab and treatment centers. Of course the common goal of all addiction treatment programs is to help end addiction for the individual. In Connecticut and across the United States, a variety of techniques and methods are being used. Some of the well known treatment methods in Connecticut include the twelve step method, relapse prevention, one-on-one counseling, drug rehabilitation, behavioral modification, cognitive therapy, support groups, sober living, therapeutic communities, AA , NA, inpatient, and outpatient drug rehab programs. There are many types of treatment centers available in Connecticut, so making a decision can be difficult. Unfortunately, many uninformed people in Connecticut go from rehab to rehab looking for the one that is right for them.
In Connecticut, there are many attempts being made to meet the needs of drug addicts, but statistics show success rates to be dismally low. What is needed and wanted is a drug treatment which not only handles physical addiction, but finds the underlying reasons why a person turns to drugs in order to free the person forever. What Connecticut addicts, alcoholics and their family, friends and loved ones need is a real and effective drug rehab treatment center. One where they are not on a time schedule or use other drugs to get the addict off the original drugs. The addict needs a reliable proven program where when they are done, their drug addiction is a thing of the past and they are now able to live full productive lives free of the stronghold of drugs or alcohol.
Choosing a Drug Rehab and Addiction Treatment Program
What should the goal be of a drug rehab center? Clean and sober for 30 days? While that might be a good short term goal, many treatment centers and 12 step programs still leave the drug addict fighting a continuing battle with addiction. Once an addict always an addict; or it’s a mental disorder they can do nothing about. When choosing a drug rehab center for yourself or a loved one from Norwalk, Connecticut, it is important to become educated on the different types of drug rehab and what the end results are.
Should the Drug Rehab Location Matter When it Comes to Finding a Solution to Addiction?
Drug and alcohol addiction typically involves habitual routines in the environmental scope of the individual, i.e. the locations of their drug or alcohol use, the people they associated with in the activities of drug or alcohol use, etc. Drug or alcohol addiction is not just drug and alcohol use, it revolves around people and things in their immediate environment which help to trigger the addictive behavior. The abusers location & routines of drug and alcohol use further trigger drug and alcohol use. It is the constant and seemingly unstoppable drug or alcohol use and the hopelessness of day to day existence which perpetuates the problem and inhibits the native desire to stop ruining their life through the use of drugs and alcohol.
The above factor should not be over looked when considering a treatment center location. The first 2 weeks of treatment are always the most difficult & There many factors at work to make this so. In addition to what has been covered above, a more basic factor is this; people are creatures of habit. Even overwhelmingly positive & beneficial changes in life, such as the birth of a child or a new job does not guarantee the individual will have no thoughts of missing past negative activities such as, drug or alcohol use, drug or drinking acquaintances and other associated activities. Factually this is the normal reactive auto response of most human beings; to do what they are familiar with; good or bad. It is not really that they yearn for these things, it is just all that they have known for some time. If the abuser is close to home when overwhelming feelings manifest themselves, there is a good chance he or she will leave and get back to what they know, drug addiction, as it is not very far away . Due to these factors, attending a drug rehab close to home is seldom the correct treatment option for chronic drug or alcohol abusers. It is extremely therapeutic to be distanced from their former association with drug dealers, bars, the cabinet where the alcohol was kept, the cigar box where the cocaine was stored, etc. All these triggers make the task of sobriety seem insurmountable to the chronic drug or alcohol abuser as these triggers continuously stimulate a reminder of their past addictive behaviors.