Suspects Arrested on Heroin Charges

On July 14, 2009, Narcotic Agents with the Caldwell County Sheriff's Office Ice Unit, Officers with the Granite Falls Police Department, Lenoir Police Department and Catawba County Sheriff's Office closed an investigation with the arrests of two individuals suspected of dealing Heroin. The suspects, Janie Stewart Spears and Terri Francis Smith, of 2630 Faris Lane in Hudson were charged with various controlled substance violations.

The investigation began when undercover narcotic agents began purchasing Heroin from Spears this month. Acting on information that Spears and Smith had traveled to Charlotte to pick up more Heroin, narcotic agents followed and stopped them on their return trip at Bojangles in Granite Falls. Both were taken into custody without incident. A search was conducted and as a result, balloons used to package Heroin, syringes, a small amount of currency, and other items of drug paraphernalia were found and seized from them and the vehicle. The vehicle, a 2000 Mitsubishi Mirage used to transport Heroin was also seized. All together agents seized over thirty doses of Heroin having a street value of $750.00.

"Lately, we are beginning to see an increase with Heroin use in Caldwell County. I do not want to see this become an epidemic problem for us. Heroin is derived from morphine and is highly addictive. Anyone caught dealing this poison in our county will not like the consequences." - Sheriff Alan C. Jones

What We Know about Heroin

Heroin is an illegal, highly addictive drug. It is both the most abused and the most rapidly acting of the opiates. Heroin is processed from morphine, a naturally occurring substances extracted from the seed pod of certain varieties of poppy plants. It is typically sold as a while or brownish powder or as the black sticky substance known on the streets as "black tar heroin." Although purer heroin is becoming more common, most street heroin is "cut" with other drugs or with substances such as sugar, starch, powdered milk, or quinine. Street heroin can also be cut with strychnine, fentanyl or other poisons. Because heroin abusers do not know the actual strength of the drug or its true contents, they are at risk of overdose or death. Heroin also poses special problems because of the transmission of HIB and other diseases that can occur from sharing needles or other injection equipment.

Short Term Effects

Intravenous users typically experience the rush within 7 to 8 seconds after injection, while intramuscular injection produces a slower onset of this euphoric feeling, taking 5 to 8 minutes. When heroin is sniffed or smoked, the peak effects of the drug are usually felt within 10 to 15 minutes. In addition to the initial feeling of euphoria, the short-term effects of heroin include a warm flushing of the skin, dry mouth, and heavy extremities.

Long Term Effects

Chronic users may develop collapsed veins, infection of the heart living and valves, abscesses, cellulites, and liver disease. Pulmonary complications, including various types of pneumonia, may result from the poor health condition of the abuser, as well as from heroin's depressing effects on respiration. In addition to the effects of the drug itself, street heroin may have additives that do not really dissolve and result in clogging the blood vessels that lead to the lungs, liver, kidneys or brain. This can cause infection or even death of small patches of cells in vital organs.

One of the most significant effects of heroin use is addiction. With regular heroin use, tolerance to the drug develops. Once this happens, the abuser must use more heroin to achieve the same intensity or effect that they are seeking. As higher doses of the drug are used over time, physical dependence and addiction to the drug develop.

Withdrawal, which in regular abusers may occur as early as a few hours after the last administration, produces drug craving, restlessness, muscle and bone pain, insomnia, diarrhea and vomiting, cold flashes with good bumps ("cold turkey"), kicking movements ("kicking the habit"), and other symptoms. Major withdrawal symptoms peak between 48 and 72 hours after the last dose and subside after about a week. Sudden withdrawal by heavily dependent users who are in poor health is occasionally fatal, although heroin withdrawal is considered less dangerous than alcohol or barbiturate withdrawal.

The following individuals were arrested and charged with the following:

Janie Stewart Spears, W/F, DOB: 5/11/1970

• Three (3) Counts of Felonious Possesion with Intent to Sell/Deliver Heroin

• Three (3) Counts of Felonious Sell and Deliver Heroin

• Three (3) Counts of felonious Maintain a Vehicle to Keep/Store a Controlled Substance, Heroin

Terri Francis Smith, W/F, DOB 2/13/1963

• One (1) Count - Felonious Possession of Heroin

Spears was incarcerated in the Caldwell County Detention Center under a $150,000 secured bond. Smith was incarcerated under a $50,000 secured bond.

The Caldwell County Sheriff's Office is always in search of any information involving the use and distribution of illegal controlled substances. A concerned citizen's information and assistance will be kept confidential. If you have any information concerning illegal drug activity in Caldwell County, please contact:

Caldwell County Sheriff's Office I.C.E. Unit at 757-1178
Lenoir Police Department's Narcotics Division at 757-2145
Caldwell County Crimestoppers at 758-8300

(This press release was written by Sgt. Agent J.D. Barbour per authority Sheriff Alan C. Jones)

This site was last updated 09/04/09