SOUNDER THE ISLANDS’
Real Estate
Serving Orcas, Lopez and San Juan County
WEDNESDAY, August 17, 2016 VOL. 49, NO. 33 75¢ islandssounder.com
in the
San Juan Islands
August 2016
• Inside this edition •
PO Box 171 Eastsound, WA 98245 360.376.2145 www.orcasislandrealty.com
Obstruction Pass Home with Dock
Expansive Views
Reality of heroin addiction Police and public come together South-facing waterfront home w/low-bank beach & cove, large shared dock, sunlit Southern exposure & spectacular views of Obstruction Pass & outer islands. This home has it all, a truly amazing location to enjoy island living! Custom built in 1983, over 5,600 sq. ft. of living space w/3 bedrooms, 4.25 baths, bright and open living room, formal dining room, large entry, bonus rooms, workshop, & 2+ car garage. Excellent floorplan to remodel to your taste. Sunny level 2.28 +/- acres w/garden space.
$1,650,000
Kelly Koral
MLS#: 967503
Wendy Thomas
Mary Clure
Stunning western views over Eastsound to Sucia, Waldron & Canadian Gulf Islands from this single level Rosario Highlands home. The stone entry opens to big views from the great room. Master suite enjoys deck access, sunken tub & separate shower. Recent renovations added a large bonus/game room, 2 car garage, new Advantex 3 bedrm septic, separate shop, integrated fire alarm. Relax on the spacious easy maintenance decks & watch the sunset .
$649,000
Lisa Botiller Wolford
Locally Owned and Operated
by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter
Is heroin becoming more common in San Juan Islands? by Colleen Smith Armstrong Editor/Publisher
Whether injected, snorted or smoked, heroin is rapidly delivered to the brain. The euphoria is immediate, and after just a few times of using, people can become addicted. Washington state is experiencing an opioid abuse and overdose crisis, and the San Juan Islands are not immune. “There is rampant drug use here, and it is with kids who were born and raised on this island,” said Orcas resident Vala Ross. “These are highfunctioning drug users who are members of our community.” Ross is the assistant director of Kaleidoscope Pre-School and a member of a county work group tasked with addressing substance abuse. She has intimate knowledge of the heroin community, and says it’s a local epidemic. Ross has heard that the drug is purchased in Friday Harbor, Mt. Vernon and Seattle. A 2015 University of Washington study compared data from 2002-2004 to 2011-13 to show opiate trends in the state. There was a 197 percent increase state-wide of publicly funded drug treatment admissions, and for San Juan County, 90 to 180 patients were admitted into a public treatment program. Previously, there were fewer than 45. Neighboring Whatcom County had more than 360 patients admitted into a treatment program; previously it had 90 to 180. “Word on the street is that it’s on the rise here, but I don’t have any data on that,” said Barbara LaBrash, human services manager for San Juan County. “The conversation needs to be constructive and not fear-based. I’ve heard other counties say that it’s a problem too, and they are trying to address the opiate epidemic for larger communities along the I-5 corridor.” Approximately 600 people die each year in
Washington from opioid overdose with an increasing proportion of those deaths involving heroin, according to the state department of health. The largest increase in heroin overdose deaths from 2004 to 2014 occurred among younger people ages 15 to 34 years. State government agencies, local health departments and community organizations across Washington have been building networks to reduce mortality associated with opioids. The 2016 Washington State Interagency Opioid Working Plan has four goals: prevent opioid misuse and abuse; treat opioid abuse and dependence; prevent deaths from overdose; use data to detect opioid misuse/abuse, monitor mortality, and evaluate interventions. Ellen Wilcox, manager of the county health department, says San Juan County’s heroin abuse and overdose numbers are less than other, larger regions in the state. “But that is not to say that we should ignore it. We are paying attention,” she said.
How it starts A key component of why people start abusing any substance – whether it’s alcohol or drugs – is to self-medicate. And for many heroin users, it starts with prescription painkillers like Vicodin, Codeine, Percocet and Oxycontin. Heroin is a cheaper and more accessible way to achieve a similar feeling of euphoria. “These are people who feel so bad that they want to feel nothing,” said Ross. According to a DOH statewide survey of syringe exchange clients, 57 percent of those who inject heroin said they were hooked on prescription opiates first. The National Institute
SEE HEROIN, PAGE 5
It all started with a cardboard sign. Retired police officer Ray Clever has been sitting on the stage during the Orcas Farmer’s Market, next to a homemade sign inviting people to speak with him about the relationship between police and the public. The story was covered by regional news stations, and it illuminated the need for more opportunities to speak with law enforcement. Orcas resident Donna Laslo and the Islands’ Sounder coordinated a panel discussion with Clever, San Juan County Sheriff Ronald Krebs, Sergeant Herb Crowe, retired Seattle Police Chief Norm Stamper and documentar-
MLS#: 974998
Victoria Shaner
Asya Eberle
ian Heather Dew Oaksen at Sea View Theater on Thursday, Aug. 11. The event was organized to help bridge the gap between the police and the public. “That’s actually half of the equation as to why I couldn’t stay home anymore,” said Clever, explaining that the recent videos of officers killing civilians in places like Minnesota, Maryland and Florida has exacerbated the “us vs. them” mentality. Around 25 islanders came to the forum, which was structured as more of a conversation and less of a Q&A so officers and audience members could share their experiences. Clever and Stamper said the recent turbulence in other areas
SEE POLICE, PAGE 4
Head of WSF visits by Mandi Johnson Staff reporter
The 30-minute rule, food vendor conflict and rider satisfaction were the hot topics of the Orcas community meeting with Washington State Ferries. The head of WSF Lynne Griffith, her staff, the Ferry Advisory Committee and the San Juan County Council were all present for the meeting at the Orcas Senior Center on Tuesday, Aug. 9. Griffith led the discussion by listing the following key points: addressing the management team’s effectiveness; uniting the ferry organization; focusing on the capital investments; and communication with legislature. Unity In the last two years, WSF has recruited all new leadership throughout the organization. Griffith said she has worked to unite all the departments, which were experiencing problems properly communicating with one another. “That has impeded the ability of the organization to get its act together,” said Griffith. Budget
Griffith addressed the issue of capital investment by noting that all but seven vessels on the fleet are over 30-years-old, and aging vessels potentially break down
SEE FERRIES, PAGE 4
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