Community brainstorms ideas to fight Pueblo’s heroin problem
Health care physicians, law enforcement and concerned parents gathered Wednesday to discuss the city’s heroin problems.
People brought questions and organizations brought information to the meeting at Pueblo’s main library.
Retired ER physician Dr. Michael Nerenberg, who specializes in heroin rehabilitation, said it’s hard to measure the scope of the problem. However, he pointed to increased police calls and hospitalizations as a sign that heroin has become an increasing problem within the city.
“It’s getting worse and we don’t even know where we are and it seems to be getting worse and that’s what’s scary about it. We are going to lose a whole generation here,” said Nerenberg.
Nerenberg helped organize the meeting in an effort to generate new ideas to help curb the city’s increasing heroin use.
“We are spending a lot of time spinning our wheels and getting nowhere and I think we need to look at some outside of the box ideas to get to this,” said Nerenberg.
Former addict Luke Edwall stood up and addressed the crowd, saying he is pleased to see the number of people that showed up with concerns about the drug.
“Battle the drug. Battle the influence it’s had on this city. If you take a look around Pueblo, it’s taken a toll on the city, the families,” said Edwall.
Parents and friends of addicts had an opportunity to speak with health care providers about treatment options for their loved ones.
Alicia Fox lost her dad to an overdose in several years ago and is currently watching more family memories battle with addiction.
“You’re just watching them have a slow death. You see them change into a completely different person,” said Fox. “They aren’t the same people that you once loved. It’s very devastating.”
Fox said it felt good to see how many people care about this issue.
“I do feel optimistic but we still have a long road ahead of us,” said Fox.
The Pueblo Fire Department reported it used Narcan, a drug used to save people who have overdosed on heroin, 140 times in 2015. Colorado Springs police started carrying the drug in recent months. Since the program’s inception, CSPD has used Narcan once.
