BOISE -- News Channel 7 investigates increasing heroin use in the Treasure Valley. The Boise Police Department tells KTVB more and more people are hooked. In fact, the department says it's the biggest challenge officers face. One reason, they say, is because it's getting harder to commit prescription fraud thanks to the Idaho Health Data Exchange.
The Idaho Health Data Exchange enables doctors, nurses, labs and other medical providers access to their patient's electronic health information quickly, 24 hours a day, making doctor shopping more of a challenge. Police say people who have been hooked on pills are now turning to heroin.
The initial rush of heroin is described as a strong euphoric wave, but the long term effects are devastating. Heroin is an opiate like morphine, codeine, oxycodone, and methadone. They are highly addictive drugs.
"Most people that are addicts you think are living in a cardboard box downtown, homeless, and that's not the case anymore," said Officer Ryan Buzzini with the Boise Police Department.
Buzzini says he has seen teachers, doctors, stay-at-home moms, kids and seniors addicted to narcotics.
"I personally investigated four DUI's in one month during day shift where they're crashing into parked cars on the side of the road," said Buzzini.
Buzzini says all too often the drivers using heroin used to be hooked on pain pills following a surgery or other medical procedure, but their prescription ran out. He says heroin is easy to get in the Treasure Valley.
"Heroin is readily available," said Buzzini.
John Liles is a recovering heroin user and says the drug is everywhere.
"We're not exactly a hub, but Salt Lake City and Portland are just a few hours away," said Liles. "It's not a big deal to get there. That's where it all seems to come from."
Liles first tried heroin when he was 19 after a long road of experimenting with drugs starting at 11 years old.
"It was like the most euphoric feeling," said Liles. "I think the most addicting part is trying to get that feeling again."
The problem is, Liles says it takes more and more of the drug to get to that point, which leads to a vicious and dangerous cycle. The dangerous cycle is one that Heather Hansen also sat down with us to talk about.
"I saw someone in junior high do it when I was 13, and it looked like they were having a great time and right away I started using heroin," said Hansen. "I spent 15 years at that point struggling with addiction."
She tells us she would do anything to get her fix.
"I stole my mom's credit cards and checkbooks when she was in the hospital to support my addiction," said Hansen.
Theft becomes common practice for users.
"I would have stolen your last dollar if you turned your back," said Liles. "You become a criminal when, in heart, you're a good person."
Liles went to prison twice for drugs use and drug dealing. Hansen also served time after her mom turned her into police.
"She pressed charges on me, and I fully believe that saved my life," said Hansen. "If I would have continued to use I don't think I would be alive right now. It had gotten that bad."
In fact, statistics show most people who start heroin never get clean and, instead, overdose. That's because the recovery process is long and painful.
