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Lori Prichard reportingPolice continue to investigate the death of a Springville man who reportedly died Sunday night from a heroin and cocaine overdose. Authorities believe the man's wife was also using drugs and, according to police, at last report, she's still in the hospital.
The real tragedy in this is the couple has two young children, two and five years old.
Today, we wanted to find out if drug use, especially heroin or other opiates, is on the rise in Utah County. And the short answer, unfortunately, is yes.
The tape from Sunday's 911 call is chilling. Dispatch asks, "What's the nature of your emergency?" The reply, "I've got a guy down. He's black. He's cold." Dispatch then asks, "Is he breathing?" And the answer, "No, he's cold. His lips are black. I guess the stove was on, the gas. I don't know. And I got my daughter here. She can't breathe, and she can't hear." The daughter can be heard screaming in the background, "I can't hear! I can't hear!"
And so goes the story of one Utah County family in the midst of what police believe to be drug addiction. According to police, there was no problem with the stove. They say Leslie Butler and her husband Jeffrey, now dead from an apparent overdose, were using heroin and cocaine.
Police say Leslie was trying to cover it up, because when authorities wanted to search the house, she wouldn't let them. So they got a search warrant and did it anyway.
In 2006, the latest figures available, more than 2,100 people sought treatment for drug abuse in Utah County. But only 7-percent of those getting help today have gotten it on their own. That means most were either forced by families or the courts to seek treatment.
Vickie Jaussi, program manager of a drug treatment facility for women and their children, has seen the spike in heroin use. She says, "The prescribed drugs is making an upsurge. And it's a really quick leap from the prescribed drugs to heroin, because heroin is cheaper on the streets than Oxycontin. So we're seeing more of a resurgence in heroin."
The thing that is important to note here is there is help. If you feel you or someone you love needs drug treatment, you can call (801) 851-7128 for the Utah County Division of Substance Abuse Assessment.
