WINCHESTER — Recently elected U.S. Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, was the guest speaker at the Northern Shenandoah Valley Substance Abuse Coalition's monthly meeting on Thursday, but Wexton spent more time listening than talking.

Wexton said the coalition’s collaborative approach, in which members work with police, prosecutors, recovering addicts, schools and treatment providers, was "inspiring." She said it should be a model for the state and nation.

"I'm really here to learn from you guys today," Wexton said. "Seeing what's your secret so we can spread it far and wide."

Wexton took notes, fielded questions, and listened to a variety of concerns. They including the lack of detox centers and inpatient drug treatment facilities in the area, expanding treatment for addicted pregnant women, and getting more federal taxpayer money to pay for police to carry the overdose antidote naloxone. Another concern was improving drug interdiction at the Mexican border.

On a day when 254 pounds of fentanyl were seized from a tractor-trailer carrying cucumbers in Nogales, Ariz. — in what authorities said was the largest fentanyl seizure at a Mexican border point of entry in history — Wexton cited Drug Enforcement Administration statistics contradicting President Trump's contention that building a wall will reduce heroin smuggling. Last year's annual DEA Drug Threat Assessment report said most heroin was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at ports of entry in San Diego, Calif., and Tuscon, Ariz. It said "only a small percentage" of heroin was seized "along the land border" between ports of entry.

Rather than spending billions for a wall along the 1,900-mile Mexican border, Wexton said more money should be spent on improved technology to scan for drugs at ports of entry, plus hiring additional Customs and Border Protection officers and U.S. Coast Guard personnel.

"The Coast Guard especially is very underfunded. We're aware of it and we're working on it," she said of House Democrats. "That's part of the discussion going into border security."

Wexton said her time as a Loudoun County prosecutor and as a private attorney working as a court-appointed guardian to abused and neglected children gave her insight into issues like drug treatment for pregnant women and expanding naloxone use. Wexton, of Leesburg, also cited her nearly five years as a state senator when she served on the Rehabilitation and Social Services Committee and the state Substance Abuse Services Council.

"I got to see the progression of how we came to view addiction as an illness and less as treating it in purely punitive matter which does not work," she said. "That's been encouraging and seeing what you guys do here in the [Shenandoah] Valley is amazing."

Lauren Cummings, coalition executive director, gave Wexton a brief history of the coalition. It formed in 2014 in response to a spike in fatal heroin overdoes in the region, which was part of the national epidemic.

Last year, there were 22 fatal heroin overdoses in the coalition's region, which includes Winchester as well as Clarke, Frederick, Page, Shenandoah and Warren counties. Deaths substantially dropped from a record-high of 40 in 2017, but Cummings said more work needs to be done.

Efforts this year include expansion of medication-assisted treatment including Suboxone, a synthetic opioid that blocks cravings for heroin and painful withdrawal symptoms. Other initiatives include a new drug intervention team which will include a police officer who will steer addicts who overdose to treatment rather than automatically arrest them.

Additionally, a federal prosecutor is scheduled to be hired by the Winchester Commonwealth's Attorney's Office later this month to work on prosecuting mid-level and major drug dealers. And in March, free, saliva-based drug kits will be distributed to parents to try to keep children from getting addicted.

Cummings noted the use of crack and powder cocaine as well crystal methamphetamine is up. Crystal meth is a purer type of meth that is primarily smuggled from Mexico rather than the crude form manufactured domestically. Cummings said the coalition is working with state police on a "threat assessment" to be more proactive about new drug trends.

"We've always emphasized that this is an addiction crisis. It's not about the drugs it's about the disease," Cummings said. And if you take it one step further, this is a mental health crisis. Because often individuals are using substances because they have trauma or something else going on that they're self-medicating for.

— Contact Evan Goodenow at egoodenow@winchesterstar.com

(7) comments

Slobo

Nice to see Wexton paying some attention to our area after her campaign where all she cared about was the liberal vote-rich Loudoun and Fairfax NoVa suburbs. Hey Wexton, Clarke did not vote for you and we know a sham when we see one.

Cleo

You hate Wendy too. Hmmmmm wonder what these ladies have in common.

Cleo

Thank you Congresswoman Wexton for listening. This area needs help and I'm glad to see your dedication to this problem.

GreaterThanScott

"On a day when 254 pounds of fentanyl were seized from a tractor-trailer carrying cucumbers in Nogales, Ariz. — in what authorities said was the largest fentanyl seizure at a Mexican border point of entry in history — Wexton cited Drug Enforcement Administration statistics contradicting President Trump's contention that building a wall will reduce heroin smuggling. Last year's annual DEA Drug Threat Assessment report said most heroin was seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at ports of entry in San Diego, Calif., and Tuscon, Ariz. It said "only a small percentage" of heroin was seized "along the land border" between ports of entry."

Wonder why they do not seize more drugs where they can cross the border unimpeded?? Wow....Build the wall and save American lives!!!

CRT

Take the billions a wall will cost and put it towards education and treatment. As long as there is demand, there will be supply.

GreaterThanScott

And when the supply is shutoff, the demand can be more easily treated as it will be easier to weed out those who no longer have access to the drugs. Use the billions that we are now pumping into supporting illegal immigrants and sanctuary cities and viola the problem is solved. Not quite that easy, but I see where you are going.

Spock Here

Steven is ever enamored by comrade in chief's jingles..."build the wall" and....miracles will happen. What about our own home grown white guys with guns Steven? What about the locals who tolerate drug use in the drug house in the area? Some might say charity begins locally; it has some merit. Since his desire for how a wall is defined changes daily, perhaps comrade Adderall should be more specific in his request...But maybe that is too complicated for his ignorant cult.

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