hese days, it seems as if youth can get their hands on virtually anything they desire. Just when you don’t think it could be next door, it is. Although the drug problem has not surfaced in Rocky River, the neighboring city of Westlake has recently had to deal with this issue.

In early February, a heroin ring was found at Westlake High School. According to a Feb. 6 Plain Dealer article, two 17-year-old male students and an 18-year-old female student were arrested on drug charges. An investigation started on Jan. 28 after Westlake High officials were notified by parents of rumors that students were using heroin. In a Plain Dealer article regarding this story, Westlake schools superintendent Dan Keenan told the Plain Dealer that the district has a zero tolerance policy against drugs.

Special agent Jeff Capretto works for the Westshore Enforcement Bureau. WEB works with cases involving Rocky River, Westlake, Fairview, Lakewood, North Olmsted, and Bay Village. WEB deals with an average of 130 cases per year.

He said the reason the use of heroin has significantly increased among teenagers is due to the fact that today’s heroin has increased in purity. The increased purity allows users to snort or smoke the drug rather than inject it. Capretto has been working for WEB for nine years now.

“I haven’t noticed a very significant change in the last five years in terms of the use of drugs like heroin or cocaine. The drugs are always going to be out there and the people seeking the drugs are almost always able to find them,” Capretto said of his experience over the years.

The drugs that seem to be the most prevalent in our suburbs are predominantly marijuana, cocaine both crack and powder, and MDMA or more commonly known as ecstasy.

In the past few years, Capretto said “Lakewood seems to be the most prevalent in terms of drugs.” One reason for this could be that Lakewood borders Cleveland making it easy for drug dealers to transport the drugs since they normally don’t like to go to the suburbs.



According to a student survey, more than half the students said they will sometimes lie to their parents so they don’t get in trouble. About 71% of the students’ parents have talked to them about the dangers of drugs. 63% of the students surveyed have never tried a drug while among the ones that have alcohol is the most prevalent.



Luke Kmetz, Community Challenge prevention counselor, deals with youth and the results these drugs have had on them. His opinion of the situation in Westlake is that the heroin problem wasn’t necessarily a drug ring but rather an isolated incident involving a few students.

“This doesn’t surprise me because I’ve heard of heroin being in suburban schools before,” said Kmetz.

The universal advice for youth who have become addicted to or involved with drugs is love and compassion, according to Kmetz said he feels we can prevent, as well as help this problem through a “community-wide effort to ensure that we are aware of what our children are up to and encouraging healthy choices. Parents should not be afraid to ask questions.” This is an issue society can only do so much to prevent, but by recognizing the problem, people are one step closer to elimnating it.