(Radio Iowa) — A study of drug overdose deaths finds there several different simultaneous opioid epidemics in the country rather than just a single crisis. Iowa State University associate sociology professor David Peters says one crisis is driven by heroin. “Where most overdoses are driven just by deaths from heroin –whether that’s black tar heroin or powdered heroin. The second one was the prescription opioid epidemic cluster — and that’s obviously prescription pills,” Peters says.

He says the heroin epidemic has taken root in states out west and in the Midwest, especially in urban areas near major interstates that experience heavy drug trafficking. The prescription drug epidemic persists in rural southern states where access to opioids centers on local pharmacies. A third epidemic of counterfeit pills is a major concern in urban centers in the northeastern United States. “They mix fentanyl with prescriptions and heroin and they mix those together to form a counterfeit pill,” Peters explains. “And then the last one we identified was one called a syndemic. And those are places that have a heroin epidemic and a prescription epidemic and this counterfeit pill epidemic all at the same time.” T

he syndemic exists in counties where the opioid crisis first erupted, particularly in mid-size cities in Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia that have experienced steep job losses in manufacturing and mining. Peters says Iowa is a split state when it comes to the drug epidemics. “On the east side of the state….long the Mississippi River, we primarily have heroin counties. Starting in Dubuque and the counties around Dubuque and then to Davenport and some counties in the extreme southeast corner of the state,” Peters says.

He says the action slows down in the middle of the state. “Most of central Iowa — it doesn’t fall into any one of these opioid epidemics. But on the west side of the state along the Missouri River we have a couple of counties that are plagued by a prescription epidemic,” according to Peters. “So it tends to happen along our borders — on our eastern and western borders — and not in central Iowa. And they are mostly in rural counties.” He says the evidence of the split shows up in Des Moines. “For example Des Moines doesn’t rank high in terms of opioid overdose death rates compared to some of the smaller rural communities,” he says.

Peters says it is important for each area of the state to get a handle on what is happening in their community. “Instead of taking a more traditional law enforcement approach, really try to work with local social services agencies, local clinics, local churches to try to identify people who are risk for using these highly potent opiods and try ot divert them away from usage,” Peters says. Peters and his co-authors conducted a county-level analysis of death certificates from across the country that noted opioid overdoses as the cause of death. Peters said roughly a quarter of all counties in the United States fall into one of the epidemic categories noted in the study.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports three drug-related arrests and one drug=related citation. Sheriff Jeff Vandewater says on Dec. 2nd, Adair Police arrested 21-year old Michael Edward Dickerson, of Schererville, IN., for Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense – Marijuana. He was taken into custody after his vehicle jumped a curb at the Casey’s Store in Adair. The driver appeared to be sleeping in the car, which was still in gear. Dickerson, who did not know where he was, and appeared confused, admitted to having marijuana in his possession. He was released later that same day on a $1,000 cash or surety bond.

47-year old Wesley Earl Tolley, of Winterset, was arrested by Adair County Deputies on Dec. 5th, and charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (2 meth pipes) and Possession of a Controlled Substance/3rd or subsequent offense – methamphetamine. Tolley was being held in the Adair County Jail on a $5,000 cash or surety bond. And, 29-year old David Gene Robbins, Jr., of Newell, was arrested Dec. 5th for Driving While Barred and Possession of a Controlled Substance/1st offense-Methamphetamine. His bond was set at $2,000. On Dec. 6th, 29-year old Rachel Marie Colburn, of Creston, was cited in Greenfield, for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (A hypodermic needle), and released.

The Adair County Sheriff’s Office reports also, 42-year old Tracy Rene Lehmann, of Des Moines, was arrested at the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, on an Adair County felony warrant for Violating the terms of her supervised release on original charges of: Burglary in the 3rd Degree; Theft in the 2nd Degree; Criminal Mischief in the 2nd Degree; Theft in the 2nd, and Burglary in the 3rd Degree – Motor vehicle related. Bond was set at $5,000.

And, 28-year old Cody Leon Zimmerline, of Adair, was arrested Dec. 6th for Harassment in the 1st Degree, by threatening to commit a forcible felony (Felonious assault or murder). Zimmerline allegedly resisted arrest and was forced to the ground before being handcuffed. His bond was set at $2,000.

Police in Red Oak arrested a central Iowa man early this (Tuesday) morning. 51-year old Richard Lee Seiberling, of Des Moines, was taken into custody at around 12:30-a.m., for Driving While Barred, Seiberling was transported to the Montgomery County Jail and held on a $2,000 bond.

(Radio Iowa) — A north-central Iowa man has pleaded guilty to two counts of posession of child pornography. Thirty-six-year-old Aaron Olson of Nora Springs admitted to possessing child pornography on a computer and memory card between 2017 and 2019.
A pre-sentence report is being prepared on Olson and he is being held until a date is set for the sentencing. Olson faces a possible maximum sentence of 40 years in prison and a 500-thousand dollar fine. He agreed in his plea agreement to be sentenced to 40 years.