The growing heroin problem is not only keeping officers busy trying to keep the drug off our streets, the drug is also taking lives. That's why many families who've been affected by this highly addictive drug are reacting to the bust.
Keith and Rachel Thompson lost their daughter, Blair, to a heroin overdose on December 23 last year.
"I like to tell people that drug addiction is akin to having terminal cancer. You go in and out of remission, but you're going to die," Keith Thompson said. He and his wife hope the drug bust that took over 2,000 doses of heroin off Wilmington's streets in just one shot, will make a life saving difference.
"To me they potentially saved 2,000 people, because it only takes one single dose to kill you," Mr. Thompson said. His wife feels the same way. "It pleases me to know that they did it. I think we are making the public aware of the major problem that we have in our area with heroin and other drugs. I'm just glad to see it going on, really glad."
Donna Rasile has mixed emotions about the bust. "When I think about this I'm so happy that they've done that, but on the other hand I'm so angry," Mrs. Rasile said. Her daughter, Renee, suffered severe brain damage after she overdosed on heroin five years ago. Donna wishes police were this serious about the heroin problem back then.
"Five years ago when I was pounding on doors and going to the police and narc agents I was told there were only a couple of DEA agents in this area and it makes me angry because I think maybe all these kids maybe didn't have to die," Mrs. Rasile said.
Even though her daughter is still alive she thinks about other parents who were not dealt the same fate. "My life has changed forever with my daughter. I still have her, but there are a lot of parents that are sitting here during this Christmas season that don't have their kids anymore."
Parents, like the Thompsons, who believe any drug bust is a battle won in a war that's taken too many lives already.
The Thompsons get emotional help from "Compassionate Friends." It's a group for parents who've lost a child under any circumstance. Their daughter's name is one of many honored this holiday season in front of the "Compassionate Friends" Christmas tree at the Festival of Trees at the Hilton in downtown Wilmington.
