shawn.mcgrath@heraldbulletin.com

ALEXANDRIA — Fentanyl, propoxyphene, alprazolam, methadone.

These are the names of prescription painkillers and medications, but they’re also some of the drugs that have caused an uptick in the number of overdose deaths in Madison County — more than double the state and national averages.

“It’s been really bad,” said Elwood Police Lt. Jason Brizendine, a member of the Madison County Drug Task Force. “I want people to wake up. I know not all of them will, but I’d wish they’d realize what’s happening to their friends.”

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, the number of overdose deaths in the county more than doubled between 2001 and 2005, from 17 to 34. The state nearly matched that, going from 335 to 665 over the same period. The figures are the latest available from the state health department.

Seventeen-year-old Richie S. Heath of Alexandria isn’t among those figures cited by the state.

Heath died Aug. 24, 2006, after overdosing on five methadone pills he bought for $2 each from a family friend. His parents, Debbie and Maurice “Moe” Richardson, didn’t know he could get the prescription painkiller — commonly used to ease withdrawal symptoms caused by addiction to other drugs — and believe it was the first time he had tried it.

“He had no idea what the consequences were,” Moe said.

Richie was on probation at the time for marijuana possession, according to his parents. They believe he took methadone because he didn’t think it would show up on a urine drug screen. They suspect peer pressure played a part.

“He had been clean and proud of it,” said Moe. “And his friends said, ‘Let’s go party and try this. They don’t check for this.’ I guess he took a couple, and nothing happened. Then I guess he took a couple more, and nothing happened. As it starts releasing, you get hammered.”

Richie dropped out of Alexandria-Monroe High School during his junior year. Mostly, his parents said, it was so he could join the work force and earn an equivalency diploma. It was Debbie who discovered Richie dead inside their home and immediately called his stepfather.

“She said ‘Moe, you need to come home — Richie’s dead,’” Moe said. “Man, I’ll tell you, that’s the worse phone call I think I’ve ever had.”

Richie bought the drugs from Susan “Susie” Fisher, 41. Fisher’s children and the Richardson’s children were friends growing up.

Fisher pleaded guilty in June to dealing in a schedule II controlled substance, a Class A felony punishable by 20 to 50 years in prison, for selling Richie the drugs the day before he died. Madison Circuit Court Judge Fredrick Spencer sentenced her to 30 years in prison in July. Fisher, who is currently incarcerated at the Rockville Correctional Facility, isn’t due to be released until July 2022.

“She did not have to sell my kid drugs,” Debbie said, adding that she and husband gave Fisher money when times were tight.

“That’s the betrayal,” Moe said. “If we had known she was selling drugs, he wouldn’t have been going over (there). We’re not into the drug scene. We don’t know where to get it, who’s selling it or anything else.”

Not all overdoses can be attributed to recreational drug users who accidentally take too much. The state health department doesn’t distinguish between suicides, homicides and accidents when figuring the number of fatal drug overdoses. The statistics aren’t broken down by age. Nor do agency officials have much of an explanation for why Madison County seems to have such a high rate.

There were 0.05 drug-induced deaths per 1,000 people in Indiana in 2001. That number climbed to 0.11 deaths per 1,000 people by 2005. In Madison County, there were 0.13 drug-induced deaths per 1,000 county residents in 2001 and 0.26 per 1,000 in 2005. Nationally, there were 0.08 overdose deaths in 2001 per 1,000 people. By 2004, the latest year for which national data were available, there were 0.11 deaths for every 1,000 people.

Brizendine, who was the lead investigator in Richie’s death, said the drugs are more readily available than in years past.

“Easy access,” he said. “Kids have access.”

Brizendine said officers and prosecutors have made a strong effort in recent years to bring charges against those ultimately responsible, like Fisher.

Brizendine was also the lead investigator in the overdose death of Kayla Davidson, of Elwood, who died in October 2005 of mixed-drug intoxication after she chewed patches containing fentanyl, a morphine-like drug normally used to treat chronic pain. An autopsy report also showed Davidson had taken propoxyphene, sold as under the tradename Darvon, a painkiller, and alprazolam, sold under the tradename Xanax, a medication used to treat anxiety disorders. Five people were ultimately charged and prosecuted in connection with her death.

“Somebody needs to be held accountable if they’ve dealt drugs and someone dies,” Brizendine said. “A lot of family members want something done, and we try our hardest.

“I’m sure a lot of parents want us to arrest them for murder, but we just can’t do that.”

For the Richardsons, they hope their son’s death raises awareness for other parents. Several community organizations and businesses contributed money to help pay for Richie’s funeral expenses, and a headstone was placed on his grave in early November after a fundraiser was held.

“Don’t do it,” Debbie said. “They don’t know what they’re getting or that it can jeopardize their lives.”

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Drug-induced deaths for Madison County and Indiana from 2001 to 2005



Madison County

2001: 17

2002: 16

2003: 26

2004: 26

2005: 34



Indiana

2001: 335

2002: 333

2003: 493

2004: 605

2005: 665



Source: Indiana State Department of Health