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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Council considers end to prohibition in city parks Mushroom hunter rescued after rainy night in Merlin woods Get Up & Go: Dec. 2 Since You Asked: How low will it go? For now, just the 30s Emergency Services Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Emergency Services Woman admits role in ID theft, bank fraud ring Community blog: The Hug-Let's Hope it Happens in Furgeson Too. Community blog: Ernie Whiteman Sr. The Definition of a SRO Emergency services Politics and Elections East Medford's the charm Pot, GMOs unite south Jackson County Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Granlund cartoon: GOP wrecking balls Education Kitzhaber calls for early education spending in budget proposal Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten Building audits will help district save energy, and money Homelessness is growing problem for Medford students Les AuCoin recommended for SOU board Environment Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill Mt. View Estates' fill, riprap work lacked county permit Birders sought for bird counts Grow 'em before you plant 'em State News Fishermen say Newport helo base may have saved their lives Kitzhaber calls for early education spending in budget proposal Eugene considers train 'quiet zones' Jesse Jackson calls for peace at Portland rally Bend retirement community brews for charity Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Lester Ray Stephens Freda Lee Davidson Edna �Alice� Soballe Morrie Dean Harvester Carla Louise Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Sans stars, Spurs deal Sixers yet another loss Dolphins overtake run-happy Jets Winston’s conduct hearing slated today at FSU Exam will look at brain of Ohio State player Browns' Hoyer: 'I've gotten us to this point' Varsity 541 College Sports Winston’s conduct hearing slated today at FSU Exam will look at brain of Ohio State player Riley to take ‘good, hard look’ at program Frost might be in line for Nebraska job Marked Man Pro Sports Sans stars, Spurs deal Sixers yet another loss Dolphins overtake run-happy Jets Browns' Hoyer: 'I've gotten us to this point' Mariners, slugger Cruz nearing contract agreement Warriors win 9th straight, beat Pistons Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Ride & Drive: The 2015 Toyota Camry Greg Zyla: Gift suggestions for car and motorsport enthusiasts Silvio Calabi: The 2015 Jetta returns to its VW roots Blog: 'Twas the 12 Days of Deals... Real Estate News Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Agriculture Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up Letters to the Editor, Dec. 2 Michael Gerson: Shrinking the global AIDS epidemic map Granlund cartoon: Charitable donations down Letters to the Editor, Dec. 1 Editorials Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really Other Views: Klamath Basin agreement deserves approval Our View: Cheers (too thankful for a jeer this week) Our View: Day of abundance, season of sharing Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 2 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 1 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 30 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 28 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 27 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Fix health care reform, don't scrap it Lifestyle Latest stories Dr. Elaine Heffner: The emotions of the holidays Food for Thought: Sugar cookies offer holiday nostalgia Ride & Drive: The 2015 Toyota Camry Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape Jeff Vrabel: Unhappy accidents are hard to predict Food Food for Thought: Sugar cookies offer holiday nostalgia Kitchen Call: A change from turkey leftovers Community blog: In soup or salad, savor pumpkin with leeks Be a gravy-making star on Thanksgiving Food for Thought: Add new twists on Thanksgiving favorites Home and Garden Home Help: Luxurious upgrades don’t have to break the bank 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Home Help: Quick tips for getting your home ready for the holidays Mortgage insurance: Your questions answered Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Community blog: Appreciating Clouds: Year-Round Gratitude Community blog: A Little Toilet Talk Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn New Arrivals ACCESS receives $50,000 donation from Wells Fargo Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Brunch at Loft Brasserie 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas Theater OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre 'Red Noses' a romp through slapstick and pathos SOU presents 'The Drunken City' Music Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love The Farr Side: Different artists, common songs Community Events 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Jacksonville's Victorian Christmas New exhibits highlight Third Fridays Dining Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Council considers end to prohibition in city parks ... Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up ... Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten ... Council considers end to prohibition in city parks ... Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up ... Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten ... Report: County is near top for drug abuse It's No. 1 and 2 for prescription drugs and meth statewide It came as no surprise to Jackson County's narcotics officers and addiction treatment specialists that the region ranks high in Oregon in meth and prescription drug abuse. By chris conrad MailTribune.com By chris conrad Posted Sep. 6, 2012 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 6, 2012 at 3:00 AM By chris conrad Posted Sep. 6, 2012 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 6, 2012 at 3:00 AM Jackson County and drug abuse --> Per capita comparison of drug treatment admissions per 10,000 residents by county: Jackson County Heroin — 20 Prescription drugs — 31 Meth — 32 Marijuana — 40... » Read more X Jackson County and drug abuse Per capita comparison of drug treatment admissions per 10,000 residents by county: Jackson County Heroin — 20 Prescription drugs — 31 Meth — 32 Marijuana — 40 Multnomah (includes Portland) Prescription drugs — 25 Meth — 29 Marijuana — 40 Heroin — 60 Number of illegal marijuana plants eradicated by police by county for 2011: Jackson County Indoor — 383 Outdoor — 2,872 Josephine County Indoor — 794 Outdoor — 577 Deschutes County Indoor — 357 Outdoor — 0 Douglas County Indoor — 52 Outdoor — 86 Meth lab seizures in Oregon since 2004 2004 — 448 2005 — 192 2006 — 62 2007 — 20 2008 — 21 2009 — 13 2010 — 13 2011 — 10 (2 in Jackson County) » Social News It came as no surprise to Jackson County's narcotics officers and addiction treatment specialists that the region ranks high in Oregon in meth and prescription drug abuse. The numbers come from a report released this week by the Oregon High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program, or HIDTA. The report noted that Jackson County has most people per capita who seek treatment for prescription medication abuse. The county also ranks second, behind Umatilla County, in the number of people per 10,000 who are treated for methamphetamine addiction. "This number is both good and bad in the sense that people are getting into treatment and there could be a light at the end of the tunnel to their addiction," said Medford police Deputy Chief Tim Doney, who also heads the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement team. "The bad news the report brings is that it drives home that there remains a large drug problem in our community." The report said that just more than 30 people for every 10,000 in Jackson County have sought treatment for meth addiction. Medford police Chief Tim George said that meth continues to pour into the region despite the Legislature's efforts to limit the sales of pseudoephedrine, a primary component in meth. "It's shocking how much meth is transported into this area," George said. "It makes you wonder about the security of our border, because most of this meth is coming here from criminal organizations based in Mexico." The HIDTA report said the number of meth labs seized in Oregon has plummeted since the Legislature took pseudoephedrine off the counter in 2004. The supply was quickly buttressed by cartels in Mexico, who can produce meth by the ton and ship it across the United States. "We are on the receiving end of powder drugs here," Doney said. "But in reference to marijuana, we are a source region." The HIDTA report backs up Doney's claim by reporting that marijuana grown in Oregon is commonly found in the Midwest and South. A large portion of this marijuana is diverted illegally from Oregon medical marijuana gardens and sold on the black market, George said. "Our marijuana goes across the nation," Doney said. "That's just a fact of life." Another disturbing tidbit listed in the report is the increase in heroin use among Oregon teens. George argues that a smokeable form of heroin, known as "gunpowder," has taken away the stigma of a drug that once was associated with needles. "You can now smoke it and not deal with needles," George said. "We are seeing that this is particularly popular with young people." Earlier this year MADGE seized 49 pounds of heroin at a local bus station. Oregon State Police found 55 pounds during a car stop last week on Interstate 5 near Ashland. "Without a doubt, heroin is on the rise here locally and throughout the state," George said. In another piece of bleak news, HIDTA reported that drug-related deaths spiked across the state in 2011, with fatalities inching up 20 percent above 2010's numbers. In all, 240 people died of drug overdoses in Oregon in 2011. Reach reporter Chris Conrad at541-776-4471 or email [email protected]. By chris conrad MailTribune.com By chris conrad Posted Sep. 6, 2012 @ 12:01 am Updated Sep 6, 2012 at 3:00 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 Local Media Group, Inc. 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