Is The Heroin Stigma Disappearing?

With a recent public arrest of two women alleged to be using heroin in a grocery store parking lot and a case of heroin at the Solomon Pond Mall, Marlborough Police Detective David Giorgi says a decreasing stigma against the drug may be part of the explanation.

“I think the stigma that has gone along with heroin, my perception was they have shied away from it, I don’t think that’s the case anymore,” said the detective of the drug which is injected into the system.

The dropping price of heroin may have also played a part in its increased use, he said, making it easier to purchase. None of this changes the dangerous nature of the drug.

"The public perception, and rightfully so, is that heroin is a more serious type drug,” said Det. Giorgi who explained this has not stopped its use from increasing. "I think the trends have definitely gone towards the heroin."

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The recent arrest of two women in a grocery store parking lot with two needles of heroin, according to court documents, brought the issue to the forefront in the city.

“Any time somebody is openly using drugs like that in an open parking lot that is definitely a cause for concern,” said Det. Giorgi. “That was great the other day that somebody took the time to call us.”

The police department has begun working with other agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Agency, when it comes to drug cases. Drugs are something that all police departments in the state battle with, he said, and that can be helped when people call in suspicious activity.

“We would rather go down there and have that outcome than go down there when someone has overdosed,” said Det. Giorgi. "(We have) had incidences when people have overdosed and people are afraid to call.”

Anyone with information about drug activity in the city can call the Marlborough Drug Hotline at (508) 481-1234.