Winner of 2018 Associated Press Managing Editors Awards, div. I, best digital project, 1st place
Winner of 2018 Associated Press Managing Editors Awards, div. I, best photo story, 3rd place
Winner of 2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best video, 2nd place
Winner of 2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best graphics artist, 3rd place
Winner of 2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best illustration or informational graphic 3rd place “Heroin overdose death numbers”
Winner of 2017 Ohio News Photographers Association, May clip contest, 1st place, photo story
Winner of 2017 USA Today Network journalism awards 2nd quarter, div. III, 1st place digital storytelling
Winner of 2017 USA Today Network journalism awards 2nd quarter, div. III, video finalist
Winner of 2017 USA Today Network journalism awards 2nd quarter, div. III, consumer engagement and experiences finalist
Winner of 2017 Media Network of Central Ohio, May MVP Award, 2nd place
Winner of 2016 Ohio News Photographers Association, March clip contest, 1st place portrait “Heroin t-shirt”
Winner of 2016 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, 2nd place, best photo story
Winner of 2016 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, 3rd place, best video “Richie’s story: from heroin to hope”
Winner of 2016 Media Network of Central Ohio March MVP Awards, 1st place

Heroin: face of addition

2016

Heroin: face of addiction 17:15

Heroin addiction has caused an unprecedented surge in overdoses, deaths and crime in Sandusky County since 2013. Addicts, their families and law enforcement tell stories of lives ripped apart from heroin addiction.

Richie’s story: from heroin to hope 12:30

Richie Webber, 24, of Clyde was a high school track star and good student, until he broke his arm playing football and was prescribed painkillers.

Mother’s fight: saving son from heroin 6:00

Theresa Musser of Fremont watched her son, Colton, struggle with heroin addiction, checking every morning to see if he was still alive.

Heroin overdoses: flirting with death 14:30

First responders, recovering heroin addicts and law enforcement explain what physically happens during an overdose, reasons why overdoses happen, and resulting legal issues.

Remembering Bryce: heroin takes a life 5:10

Bryce Williamson had a funny, sarcastic wit and a good heart. Although he became addicted to heroin, his family supported him through rehab and he was one year sober. Then, at 23, he used just one more time.

Heroin addicts’ kids: trapped innocents 11:15

Kids struggle with the fallout of parent’s heroin addictions. Social workers and the court system talk about the impact.

Heroin crime: living at the breaking point 13:30

Recovering addicts and law enforcement tell stories of living deep in heroin addiction and the resulting crimes.

Dustin’s story: officer poked by heroin needle 2:50

Officer Dustin Nowak responded to a call of suspected drug activity on the east side of Fremont. After he surprised a woman shooting up drugs in a vehicle, his life changed forever.

Block watch: police educate about heroin 6:00

Detective Jason Kiddey of the Fremont Police Department educates residents how to identify heroin and other drugs by passing around examples confiscated by the police department at a Block Watch meeting.

Heroin: searching for sobriety 17:10

Recovering addicts, social service providers and law enforcement explore treatments for heroin addiction in Sandusky County.

Kyle’s story: lifetime struggle for heroin sobriety 4:20

Kyle Wyss, 31, of Fremont has been injecting drugs for the past 10 years. He lost everything to deep addiction, never held a job and lived under a bridge. Wyss has been to rehab multiple times. His longest break from using heroin had been five months. Until now.

Brittany Hatfield, 23, of Clyde visits the grave of her ex-boyfriend, Bryce Williamson, who she loved deeply. He died of a heroin overdose in November 2014. He was 23 years old.

Brittany Hatfield, 23, of Clyde said her ex-boyfrined Bryce Williamson was a charismatic, outgoing young man. He sang in the choir. He loved karaoke. He made people laugh, she said, as she remembered the time he wore assless chaps to a party.

Bralyn Gregg, 15, of Clyde holds family photos featuring her brother, Bryce Williamson, who died of a drug overdose.

Alex Leal, 59, of Fremont prays to God to help him stay sober. He said he has not used heroin for more than a year. Leal has relapsed multiple times since his late teens, and said it is easy to lose track of how many times he has relapsed.

Kyle Wyss, 31, has been battling heroin addiction for 8 years. He said it was the second time he overdosed that his 6-year-old daughter found him on the floor. He said he could think of six friends who died of drug overdoses and could probably name more if given more time.

Theresa Musser, of Fremont, left, watched her son, Colton, struggle with heroin addiction, checking every morning to see if he was still alive, she said. After years of being manipulated and lied to, she said she grew tired of her son’s destructive behavior and made a stomach-wrenching choice: She kicked Colton out. It was brutally cold that night. “It was the hardest thing I ever did,” she said.

Richie Webber, 24, of Clyde hugs his mom, Cindy Weller, who has supported him through his addiction and recovery. A high school track star and good student, Webber got hooked on pain killers after a football injury. His addiction led him to heroin use.

Heroin related crimes in Woodville and other Sandusky County communities has risen dramatically since 2013. Officer Steve Gilkerson works with a drug sniffing dog named Raider to make arrests. Heroin-related burglaries and forced home entries shot up as more residents started using the drug, which is cheaper and more accessible than prescription pills and painkillers.

Sandusky EMS Captain John Marcson, left, and Sandusky County EMS Chief Jeffrey Jackson said recovering addicts, police and EMS officials all say there is often a reluctance to seek help — even when a person is turning blue from a life-threatening overdose — for fear of repercussions for the overdose victim and his or her friends and family.

Detective Jason Kiddey of the Fremont Police Department with seized evidence of needles and suspected recovered heroin sized by the Fremont Police Department.

Heroin’s unrelenting grip

2017

Kayla Davis’ story: “shooting demons” 10:00

Kayla Davis, 26, of Bellevue tells her story of heroin addiction, interviewed four months before her overdose death of 3-methylfentanyl on July 20, 2016.

Fentanyl causing deaths 2:40

Disguised as heroin, more powerful synthetic painkillers are causing an increase in overdose deaths in Sandusky County.

Drug overdose numbers in Sandusky County 1:30

In 2016, drug overdose deaths doubled in Sandusky County from the previous year.

Ohio’s 911 Good Samaritan Law 1:20

Effective September 2016, Ohio’s new Good Samaritan Law provides immunity, with restrictions, from prosecution to people who call for medical assistance.

Heroin overdoses: stop putting water on people :55

Capt. John Marcson with Sandusky County EMS explains why putting water on someone overdosing on heroin does not work to revive a person.

New Drug Task Force 3:35

Newly elected Sandusky County Prosecutor Tim Braun explains his hopes for newly formed Sandusky County drug task force now that the 5 year, 0.55-mill levy narrowly passed by 162 votes – 4,472 to 4,310.

Martel Copeland’s story: life ended too soon 4:40

Nancy Copeland and Shane Durbin remember their son, Martel Copeland, 22, of Fremont who died of a drug overdose on Aug. 27, 2016.

Sober support on a Friday night 1:15

Recovering heroin addict Richie Webber, 25, of Clyde organizes sober events for recovering addicts through his newly formed nonprofit organization, Fight for Recovery.

Joey Silcox’s story: relapse just after rehab 2:50

Dr. Paul Silcox remembers his son, Joey, 25, of Bellevue who died of a drug overdose on Nov. 12, 2016.

Drug Court 6:05

Drug court started in Sandusky County in 2014 by Judge John Kolesar. In addition to probation, the judge helps non-violent offenders in legal trouble because of a drug problem create a better reality for themselves.

Experiencing a heroin overdose 1:05

Recovering opiate addict Andrew Laubacher, 29, of Fremont details his experience overdosing the only time he used heroin.

Paul Silcox of Fremont holds a photo of his son, Joey, who was 25 when he died of a drug overdose on Nov. 12, 2016. Heroin, fentanyl and cocaine were found in his son's system after his death. In 2016, drug overdose deaths doubled in Sandusky County from the previous year. Disguised as heroin, more powerful synthetic painkillers are causing an increase in overdose deaths in Sandusky County.

Nancy Copeland, right, and Shane Durbin remember their son, Martel Copeland, who died from a drug overdose on Aug. 27, 2016. His family tried to get him into a Florida rehab center, then took him to Toledo. A treatment center had a bed available, but Copeland didn’t have his medical insurance card on him and was turned away.

Kayla Davis died from a drug overdose on July 20, 2016. Friends say she thought she was buying heroin. The toxicology report showed the cause of death from 3-Methylfentanyl.

At the open mic night, people in recovery stream into the restaurant well after 9 p.m. from Clyde, Fremont, Tiffin, Republic, Genoa and Sandusky to listen to live music over a cup of coffee. They come to hang out with other sober people.

Recovering heroin addicts Cody Delgado, 30, of Fremont, left, and Carissa Carter, 22, of Republic hang out at a sober support meeting hosted by Fight for Recovery in Clyde.

Recovering heroin addict Nate Kehlmeier, 34, of Genoa spends Friday night socializing at a sober support meeting hosted by Fight for Recovery in Clyde. Now employed by a rehab facility, he helps addicts to sobriety.

Judge John Kolesar said he started drug court in August 2014 aimed at the opiate addiction issue. In his court, Kolesar is seeing more theft cases, OVIs, driving under suspension — a lot of things the judge thinks people may not consider that serious. But his court identifies these crimes with the county’s ever growing drug problem and offers offenders a way to turn their lives around, provided they can meet the drug court’s stringent demands.

Probation officer Jeremy Greene looks on as Judge John Kolesar holds drug court in Clyde. About 30 people have gone through drug court since its inception, with five of them graduating.

Andrew Laubacher, 29, of Fremont, said he died from a drug overdose. His heart stopped beating for eight minutes as his wife and children watched him turn blue, he said. He has been in Judge Kolesar’s drug court for two months, trying to put his life back together. He attends regular addiction recovery meetings and Vivitrol helps curb his opiate cravings. He said he and his wife Tasha, 25, hope to regain custody of their children in July.

During a weekly appearance, recovering opiate addict Andrew Laubacher, 29, of Fremont holds a list of 50 triggers that tempt him to use drugs. He wrote the list as an assignment in drug court from Judge John Kolesar.

Meth abuse overtaking heroin

2018

Family overcomes grip of heroin addiction 6:00

Together for 24 years, Jeff Schill, 40, and Angela Trimble, 39, of Port Clinton met in junior high and fell in love in high school. When Jeff became addicted to opiates, then heroin, addiction almost tore their family apart.

Not actually heroin 1:00

Drugs on the street sold as heroin are usually more potent synthetics, leading to accidental fatal drug overdoses, according to Ottawa County Prosecutor James VanEerten.

Naloxone saving lives 1:30

The number of fatal overdoses in Ottawa County decreased from 14 in 2016 to 7 last year, a drop that officials attribute to law enforcement carrying naloxone.

Drug Addiction Response Team 2:35

Trevor Johnson with Ottawa County’s Drug Addiction Response Team responds to drug overdoses and links addicts with services to avoid criminal charges by complying with recommended treatment steps and completing a law enforcement supervision period.

Meth overtaking heroin abuse 2:05

Heroin abuse in Ottawa County is being replaced by meth, a strong central nervous system stimulant. Meth users stay awake for days, are prone to paranoia, and create open sores by scratching at their skin.

Light House Sober Living 1:50

Light House Sober Living in Port Clinton offers a sober living community for recovering addicts. The men’s home opened three years ago with 15 beds, and the women’s home opened two months ago with 7 beds.

Together for 24 years, Jeff Schill, 40, and Angela Trimble, 39, of Port Clinton met in junior high and fell in love in high school. The drank and smoked weed, and Jeff sold and used cocaine. "It wasn't 100 percent of either of our lives in the beginning when we got together." In 2007, Jeff was in a car accident, was in a coma, and almost died. Recovering was a long and painful process. Because of the physical pain, he said he looked up to God and asked, "'Why didn't you just finish this and put me out of my misery?'"

For one and a half years Jeff was prescribed opiates including fentanyl, Percocet and Vicodin. He said he sold half of his prescriptions to buy stronger illegal drugs. The prescriptions were stopped when he was drug tested and heroin, cocaine, morphine and marijuana were found in his system. Angela said, "It took me one time to do it and I was on it four years." She said the fun of doing heroin only lasted a few months. Then it became a chore to get drugs each day to not feel sick.

Jeff said he was gone half of each day running to Toledo, Sandusky or Fremont to get drugs. "It is a full-time job getting drugs, especially heroin," Jeff said. Angela said, "Our relationship was nonexistent. It was just based off of our use." Every day at work, Angela said she would think about the alcohol she would buy on the way home from work and hope her boyfriend had drugs so she could feel good enough to get through the night.

Judge Bruce Winters with the Ottawa County Common Pleas Court said about 80 percent of the cases on his Ottawa County Common Pleas Court docket are drug related, including cases involving possession, theft and burglary.

Heroin seized by the Ottawa County Drug Task Force. Users think they are buying heroin, but the drugs are actually stronger synthetics such as fentanyl or 3-methylfentanyl, causing overdoses, according to Carl Rider, commander of the Ottawa County Drug Task Force.

Recovering heroin addict Alexandria Lowery, 26, left, and recovering meth addict Ashley Ammerman, 23, support each other in sobriety at Light House Sober Living in Port Clinton. “I came here because I wanted that second chance,” Ammerman said.

Recovering meth addict Ashley Ammerman, 23, left, said it is her fifth time trying to stay clean, and finds support with her roommate, recovering heroin addict Alexandria Lowery, 26.

Recovering meth addict Ashley Ammerman, 23, left, and recovering heroin addict Alexandria Lowery, 26, said they do chores around the house to keep their minds occupied and off drugs.

Jodi Zbierajewski, house manager of Light House Sober Living, said she's seen both sides of the legal system and felt blessed that she could work at Light House and help residents that are trying to find a way out from addiction. "You can't do it alone," she said. "It just doesn't work alone."

Kenn Bower, Jr., executive director of Light House Sober Living, said the area's recovery community had grown in the last five-or-six years, with people in recovery rallying around others in need of support in their fight against addiction. "That's one of the largest assets that we have," he said.

Judges comments

“Molly had a very nice portrait of a subject that is breaking the hearts of families, friends and community members around the nation. It was a simple portrait of a person who lost a loved one from their battle with heroin addiction. The Buffalo News staff has had several assignments in the last several months trying to tell this story with our cameras and it has proved almost impossible. We looked at Molly’s picture for a long time. We liked it.”
-Winner of 2016 Ohio News Photographers Association, March clip contest, 1st place portrait “Heroin t-shirt”

“Excellent work delving into a story and showcasing the raw side of this world and these people’s stories.”
-2016 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I , best photo story, 2nd place “Heroin: Face of Addiction”

“Terrific story about addiction, how it takes hold and the road to recovery. Having a willing subject who is also eloquent certainly helps. “
-2016 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I , best video, 3rd place “Richie’s Story: From Heroin to Hope”

“This tremendously productive duo built upon their 2016 coverage of this story with emotional, insightful stories of people whose lives have been changed forever by the epidemic of heroin use and synthetic drugs. The video interviews provide an understanding of the effect on these people’s lives that would be nearly impossible to achieve with text alone. ”
-2017 USA Today Network journalism awards 2nd quarter, Div. III, 1st place digital storytelling

“The use of the “men and women shapes” gave a great visual impact on the increasing negative effects of drug overdoses. Helped send a powerful message instead of just using numbers.”
-2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best graphics artist, 3rd place

“This graphic gives a sense of emotion, because you count people, not numbers, by presenting the statistics with “human figures.” Well done.”
-2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best illustration or informational graphic 3rd place, “Heroin overdose death numbers”

“This video series works very well as a companion to the series of stories on the heroin crisis. I enjoyed that each video told a different story or provided distinctive information to the viewer.”
-2017 Associated Press Managing Editors awards, div. I, best video, 2nd place