A New York City man that became the face of heroin trafficking in Massena was sentenced to a 25 years in federal prison Thursday and federal and local authorities marked the occasion by hosting an educational event that was linked to the use of heroin and opioids.

The United States Attorney's Office for the Northern District of New York, in conjunction with the FBI and DEA; Massena Mayor Timmy J. Currier, the Massena Drug Free Coalition and Chief Love hosted an event that included the showing of a documentary film, "Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict." The documentary depicts the harsh reality of opioid addiction and is also available on line on You Tube.

An interactive community response panel a wide range of individuals that have first-hand knowledge of the drug issues in the community. The panel ranged from the village's police chief and a federal prosecutor to the mom of a now young adult who has battled drug issues since the age of 13.

The panel also included school counselors and EMTs, nurses and treatment professionals and a former user now in recovery and a high school that is a leader in a student group that advocates for alcohol and substance abuse free lifestyles.

"It is fitting that this event was held on the same day Mr. Lloyd was sentenced to a lengthy prison sentence for the damage he did to our community and to so many families. He is definitely the person who brought the dealing of heroin on a large scale to our community and left too many users looking for new sources for their drugs when we were able to take Mr. Lloyd and his network of local dealers off the streets." Love said.

"We know that education can be a positive step forward as we work to address the heroin and opioid addiction issues in our community. We hope the film can serve to generate discussion among community stakeholders and help educate the public about the prescription drug and heroin abuse and overdose issues we are facing in our community on a daily basis. We know we need everyone in Massena to play a role in our community response to this issue," he said.

Assemblywoman Addie J. Russell, D- Theresa, who has worked extensively to provide communities and families with the tools they need to address heroin and opioid addiction, said Thursday's event is yet another reminder the Massena community has come together in a positive way to address the issue.

"I've been so impressed with the work of the Massena Drug Free Coalition. Massena is ahead of the curve regionally. They have zeroed in on the needs in the community. They are taking the steps necessary to provide assistance to people trying to transition from using to a life of recovery," Assemblywoman Russell said.

Chief Love said the community's struggle with heroin use can be traced to the arrival of Patrick "Problem" Lloyd, a former New York City man, in Massena. He acknowledged there had been an opioid issue tied to the abuse of painkillers before Mr. Lloyd's organization introduced heroin into the Massena market.

Lloyd was sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in federal prison Thursday for his conviction of conspiracy with intent to distribute controlled substances and a consecutive term of five years in federal prison for possession of firearms in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime.

An investigation by local, state and federal authorities ended with the conviction of 17 members of this conspiracy. Authorities said the organization utilized suppliers in New York City to obtain large quantities of cocaine, heroin, and crack for redistribution in the Massena area.

The U.S. Attorney's Office said their investigation determined couriers were used to transport drugs from New York City to Massena, where dealers sold ounce and gram quantities to drug users and other wholesale drug dealers. The investigation was led by Homeland Security Investigations, the Massena Village Police Department, the St. Lawrence County Sheriff’s Department and the New York State Police.

Assemblywoman Russell recently met with members of the Massena Drug Free Coalition and had the opportunity to talk with agencies dealing with the drug issue as well as people whose lives have directly impacted by heroin and opioid addiction.

"It is so impressive to listen to the strides the group has made and their willingness to stand together to confront this tragic situation," she said.

The assemblywoman said she was also thankful for those willing to share their own stories - from a mother whose son was in his 146th day of recovery in a treatment program after years of abuse to those now in recovery whose past use had resulted in frequent contacts with the criminal justice system.

"I thank them for their willingness to share their deeply personal and tragic experiences," according to Assemblywoman Russell.

"Hearing first hand from parents and those currently in recovery who have beaten addiction fuel my work to provide services in our communities to assist those trying to get out of this lifestyle," she noted.

"It's so important to hear their stories, but while it is great for me to hear their stories it is so much more important for famiies and those struggling with addiction to hear their words," Assemblywoman Russell said.

She noted just before she had entered that morning meeting with the Massena Drug Free Coaltion earlier this summer she learned village police were responding to a reported drug overdose fatality in the village.

Massena Mayor Timmy J. Currier, the chair of the drug free coalition, noted the group was formed in 2012 in response to the opioid issues in the community.

"I remember every provider told me at the time once you solve the prescription drug problem you will have a heroin problem. You were right," he acknowledged.

Chief Love indicated his department had responded to 41 incidents involving heroin over the past 18 months, including 44 needle complaints, 23 overdose calls and three deaths from heroin overdoses. Police are awaiting toxicology results on other unattended deaths in recent months so that number could still grow.

Love said the heroin epidemic in the community has also led to a spike in larcenies, burglaries and robberies as addicts need money to get their next fix. He said well over three-quarters of a million dollars worth of goods were reported stolen in 2015 in the village.

A mother told the story of her son's addiction and shared the impact his drug use has had on his life for the past decade as well as the impact it has had on his family. Her son has been treated for an overdose and has had frequent contact with the criminal justice system.

But she said she still has hope her son will be able to transition from user to a life of recovery.

She said it was important for families of addicts to network. "We are not alone. We need to work together," she stressed.

Another speaker at the meeting told Assemblywoman Russell he was just 12 years old the first time he put a needle in his arm, encouraged to do so by a friend's dad.

He said once his friend's dad had him addicted to heroin he became his drug dealer.

The man, now in his 20s, said he worked when he was an addict but had to use every four hours. He said he eventually reached out for help, going to the detox center in person nine times and calling 43 times in unsuccessful efforts to be admitted into the facility.

He said the last time he was denied treatment he returned to Massena, broke into an office and stole money he needed to feed his drug habit.

He was arrested on a burglary charge and then court ordered to complete the treatment program. "I got clean and have been clean since that time," he said.

The now convicted felon - convicted for selling drugs to feed his drug habit - is on a Suboxone treatment program and runs a needle exchange program through ACR.

He said he has 50 clients in Massena and 70 clients in Ogdensburg.

"The less people we have sharing needles the less Hep C, HIV we are going to have in our communities. My car is filled with 6,000 to 7,000 dirty needles when I make my trip to Syracuse to turn them in every couple of months," he said.

A former alcohol and substance abuser said a sober clubhouse, Serenity Place, opened in Massena three years ago to offer a safe place for those in recovery.

Local health care officials noted emergency rooms in the area are flooded with drug seekers, and hospital beds are filled with people who had suffered drug overdoses and are detoxing on the medical/surgical floors of local hospitals because treatment beds are not available.

The rate of hospitalizations with a substance abuse diagnosis here is 61 percent, twice as high as the national average, local officials told the assemblywoman.

School officials say while they have not found heroin in the schools they have felt its impact.

"We have many students that are exposed to heroin due to use by family members. It brings tears to your eyes when you hear what these kids are going through," the high school administrator said.

She noted school officials are seeing increased thefts of cell phones, sneakers and backpacks in their buildings. "The poverty rate is going up in our district, and they see this as a way to survive," she noted.

A treatment provider told Assemblywoman Russell there continues to be a need to have more physicians in the community certified to prescribe meds that assist those seeking to stay clean after being addicted to heroin or opioids.

"We need to have more prescribers if we hope to have sustained recovery," she said.

Assemblywoman Russell, who co-sponsored a program in Alexandria Bay this spring for medical professionals to be certified to prescribe Suboxone, said she understood that concern.

"We have to have places in our community where Suboxone is available from medical professionals so those in the early stages of recovery are able to work and function," she said.

"We know St. Lawrence County was an epicenter of opioid pill abuse a few years ago. That's partially a result of socio-economic factors. The reality is we have a lot of people here with serious pain issues due to the hard, physical labor that plays such an important role in our North Country economy. We have a lot of people addicted to opioids they take for pain management, and we have to realize that," Assemblywoman Russell said.

She said it is also important to look at ways to find ways to get those in recovery back into the workforce, even if they have a felony conviction stemming from their time as users.

"We need to get rid of the stigma and work to find jobs for people with felony convictions. There are too many stories like one I am familiar with involving a woman in her mid 20s who went through treatment, got clean and then discovered she could not get a job because she has a felony on her record. That is not going to help us with this battle," Assemblywoman Russell said, suggesting it is not helpful to punish people who are doing the right things to clean up their lives.

She also praised the Massena Drug Free Coalition for the work it is doing to address the crisis in the community.

"The drop in clubhouse you already have here puts you ahead of many of communities. It is seen as one of the most important components of the recovery process. We are only selling people fake promises if we don't have support programs at all levels. That sober clubhouse provides those in recovery with a place to talk about their successes, to hear about the direction people in similar situations are taking after addiction," Assemblywoman Russell pointed out.

But she also acknowledged the fight to beat back heroin and opioid addiction issues in our communities will not be won overnight.

"We are not going to solve this in three to five years. It will be a full generation before we can claim victory over this epidemic, but we know the work you are doing today will have long-term positive results," Assemblywoman Russell said.