NORWICH – Chenango County Court Judge Frank B. Revoir Jr. spent this past Tuesday morning at the Otselic Valley Central School, speaking on the heroin epidemic happening in Chenango County.
This past Tuesday Nov. 3, 2015 was Election Day in New York State, which meant all courts were closed for the day.
Town of Plymouth Justice Paul O’Connor had previously known about an assembly taking place at the Otselic Valley Central School and asked Revoir if he would be interested in speaking.
The school gave Revoir the option to speak on whatever topic he wished to address.
Due to the heroin epidemic that is sweeping across the country as well as Chenango County specifically, Revoir thought it was appropriate to speak on this matter.
Chenango County Court Attorney Barry Fitzgerald, Chenango County Court Officer John Blangiardo, as well as myself, Cameron Turner Evening Sun court reporter, were all invited to accompany Revoir to this assembly.
The assembly began around 7:50 a.m. once the students grades 7 through 12 were fully assembled in the auditorium of the school.
Revoir began talking by giving some introductions of himself, as well as each of us that he brought along for the event, Revoir opened up asking, “What do you think is one of the number one problems that communities are facing today, anybody have an idea?”
One student way in the back immediately raised their hand, proclaiming, “Drugs.”
“Drugs, yeah I'd definitely say that was in the top two, if not number one,” said Revoir.
Another individual raised their hand saying, “What about DWIs?”
This seemed to lead the discussion towards each specific epidemic that communities have faced over time.
Revoir explained to the students how communities have seen the DWI epidemic, the crack epidemic, each of which have been battled and brought under some control.
Revoir introduced what he deemed the newest problem facing communities as the far worse epidemic of, heroin and opiate epidemic.
The students learned how doctors simply prescribe opiate pain killers legally such as hydrocodone or oxycodone, which when abused can cause addiction to spiral out and lead to heroin use.
“The intent may be that I am only going to use these until my pain goes away, but these drugs block your brain from creating its own chemicals to make you happy,” explained Revoir.
