Sheriff's Deputies, Medical Experts to Discuss Conejo Valley Heroin Problem

There were 26 heroin overdoses—four resulting in death—reported in Thousand Oaks and the surrounding unincorporated areas between Jan. 1, 2009 and March 15, 2011, according to a statement issued by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department Tuesday afternoon.

The statement said there were 245 arrests related to heroin abuse during the same time period. Of those arrests, 197 of the cases involved people between the ages of 16 and 25.

It's a growing trend that motivated the Thousand Oaks Police Department to host a free and open-to-the-public forum from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday at Thousand Oaks High School, 2323 N. Moorpark Rd., Thousand Oaks.

The Sheriff's statement ascribed the growing problem to the availability of medications easily available in home medicine cabinets. People, who find their way down a path toward opium addiction, it said, often begin with commonly prescribed pain medications, which often derive their potency from opium.

The transition from pills to either smoking or injecting heroin is often inevitable due to the physical and psychological need to maintain the addiction, according to the statement.

Officials from law enforcement, the medical field and behavioral health community will be present at the event. As well, several community members will be there to share their experiences of how prescription drugs and heroin have affected their lives.

A bin will be available at the event in which anyone can dispose off unused or expired prescription drugs.