Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Judge Michael Astrab has seen too many heroin cases in his courtroom. “Make no mistake, it’s an epidemic,” Astrab said. “I can do what I can as a judge from the bench, but by the time a user gets to my courtroom, it’s often too late. As a community, we need to do more to prevent people from using heroin in the first place.”
During the 2013-14 school year, Astrab will host a series of “Heroin in the Suburbs” forums. A town hall for Independence and surrounding communities will take place on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 PM at the Independence Public Library (6361 Selig Drive).
Astrab’s goal is to help raise awareness of the heroin epidemic, and inform parents how to keep their families safe.
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“This is an epidemic. For anyone to suggest otherwise,” Astrab said, “is naive.”
According to the medical examiner, heroin killed approximately 200 people in Cuyahoga County in 2013. The majority of those deaths were in the suburbs. Heroin took more lives in 2013 than homicides or car accidents.
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Scheduled expert panelists include Dr. Joan Papp from Project DAWN, defense attorney Brook Deines, Assistant County Prosecutor Patrick Lavelle, treatment specialist Robert Garrity and Dr. Stephen Sroka from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.
“Everyone involved in these forums has one goal – prevent at least one person from being hurt by heroin,” Astrab said. “If we can do that, this effort will absolutely be worth it.”
All Independence residents – especially parents and students – are encouraged to attend.
Astrab has held previous forums in Solon, Westlake, Broadview Heights, Parma, Strongsville, Bay Village, Beachwood, North Olmsted, Mayfield and the City Club of Cleveland. Future forums will take place in Garfield Heights, Maple Heights, Brooklyn and East Cleveland.
At a recent forum, Dr. Sroka said everyone has the power to make a difference. “Denial is huge. You can’t say ‘It’s not in my community’ anymore. You should be prepared. There’s not a person here this can’t happen to.”
For more information, follow Judge Astrab on Twitter @judgeastrab. To RSVP to attend the forum on Facebook, search for “Independence: Heroin in the Suburbs.”