Eastern Iowa has experienced a heroin epidemic that includes increased heroin trafficking and the attendant increased societal effects. Although the FOUR counties covered by this initiative (Linn, Johnson, Black Hawk and Dubuque) account for only 15.8% of Iowa's population, they account for 44% of Iowa's heroin lab submissions for the first third of 2015. By 2015, heroin and other opioids were the cause of 84.6% of all overdoses in Cedar Rapids alone. The ‘Eastern Iowa Heroin Prevention Initiative’ is eclectic in nature, with primary emphasis on drug awareness programs, community action organizational efforts, first responder training, and detoxification and treatment services. Secondarily, investigative case development by law enforcement authorities, in concert with the US Attorney’s offices, are encouraged in order to effectively target heroin sources of supply and distribution for federal prosecution. The initiative will utilize town hall style meetings, health fairs, and public awareness campaigns to improve prevention efforts, and work closely with substance abuse and health care providers to:
1) improve the availability of treatment and detox services;
2) help facilitate a smooth transition a patient from emergency room to detox/substance abuse treatment; and
3) coordinate any needed victim or witness services. It will also facilitate training to LEO’s for appropriate evidence collection, information sharing, and utilization of the OCDETF program in targeting the highest levels of the heroin trafficking network.
