Heroin Becoming Local Drug of Choice
Heroin Becoming Local Drug of Choice Save Email Print
Posted: 9:07 PM Aug 14, 2008
 Last Updated: 9:07 PM Aug 14, 2008
 Reporter: Michael Wooten
Email Address: michael.wooten@wsaz.com
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HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Heroin, one of the deadliest drugs in the country, is taking a toll locally -- quickly becoming the drug of choice.

It tends to be popular because prescription pain killers and other drugs are harder to find.

"We will be keeping the heat on anybody involved in drug trafficking, especially heroin trafficking in Huntington," Huntington Police Chief Skip Holbrook said.

Thanks to city, state and federal forces, heroin trafficking has taken a major hit. More than a dozen people from Cabell County recently were implicated in a major heroin bust that had been masterminded more than a year.

Despite the arrests, heroin is the latest drug -- sweeping not only Huntington and West Virginia -- but the entire region.

"In recent months, we've bought heroin for the first time since UNITE's been in operation," said Dan Smoot of Operation UNITE. "Basically, all three of the task forces have bought small amounts of heroin."

In Ohio, the substance abuse monitoring network says "Black Tar" heroin use has skyrocketed -- especially among juvenile whites and young adults.

"I think it's just a matter of time until heroin is a drug of choice in the region," Smoot said.

The drug dealing is simple geography. It is produced in Mexico then shipped into the U.S., with a major trade directly to Columbus, Ohio. From there, it's heading to Huntington, then on to southern Ohio to the west, eastern Kentucky to the south and Charleston to the east.

"That was a problem that really was instantly at epidemic proportions," Smoot said.

Epidemic, law enforcement officials explained, because of the number of overdose deaths caused by the heroin's purity level.

"Normally, you're in the 15 to 20 percent range," said Dennis Bolun, an agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "The heroin that we sent to the lab here is coming back in the 60s to 75 percent range. So, it's extremely potent, and that's what led to the overdose deaths."

The accused ringleader of the region's heroin trade, Jose Hernandez Salazar, is still on the run in Columbus. So far, 19 of the 24 suspects in the recent heroin investigation have been arrested or indicted. Officers hope several of the small-time users and dealers will help investigators get to the higher profile suspects.
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Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 19, 2008 at 04:19 PM
I agree that most addicts arent serious about the methadone clinics they use them to get high when its dry on the street or to profit in the same way as street drugs.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 19, 2008 at 04:15 PM
u know what i am glad that there is methadone clinics around really in huntington but the users just go there when its dried up and then out they come to get back on. its taken over so many friends of mine. its sad what i know. i think the methadone and rehabs need to CRACK DOWN HARDER. someone has got to stop this. everyone is suffereing not just the addict.
Posted by: heroin addict on Aug 29, 2008 at 08:55 AM
i also want to say that after readin through sum of these comments, im shocked . METHADONE IS NOT DILUTED HEROIN!! GET UR FACTS RIGHT!.IM FROM ENGLAND AND I DONT KNOW ABOUT OVER THERE BUT..OVER HERE WE SEE METHADONE AS A OPTION TO KICKIN THE HEROIN,THEY DO NOT STOP UR METHADONE IF U ARE TAKING OTHER DRUGS.OVER ERE THEY SEE IT LIKE THIS....IF U WAS ON A GRAM OR 2 GRAM A DAY, AND THEN U START THE METHADONE PROGRAMME AND U CUT DOWN BY A SMALL OR A BIG AMOUNT OR IN ALOT OF CASES COMPLETELY THEN THE PERSCRIBERS SEE AT AS AN ACHIEVEMENT,ITS JUST ANOTHER OPTION!!METHADONE DOES NOT GIVE U A BUZZ, IT STIMULATES THE OPIATE RECEPTORS SLOWLY, RELEASING SMALL AMOUNTS OF METHADONE THROUGHT THE 24 HOURS IT WORKS.THEREFORE A BUZZ NOT GIVEN BUT THE METHADONE USER DOES NOT FALL INTO WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.PEOPLE MAKING ALL THESE COMMENTS N ASSUMPTIONS AND SUM OF THEM R TOTALLY FAR FROM THE TRUTH,IT MADDENS ME BECAUSE DRUG TAKERS ARE LABELED SO MUCH NOWDAYS.AND THE TV N PRESS R MOSTLY TO BLAME I THINK....
Posted by: heroin addict on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:17 PM
i was readin through these comments and i saw that some people have strong opinions about heroin, methadone and drugs in general.I would just like to say that...HOW the hell can you make comments on something in which u have never tried and have never had to live with.Its all well saying..''do this'' and ''do that'', .i argee that we all have a right to have a opinion but please dont make assumptions about heroin and heroin/methadone addicts/users.ITs like slagging off a country in which u have neva been to, or on a meal that u have neva tried !if that makes any sense??
Posted by: heroin user on Aug 28, 2008 at 12:07 PM
i dont want to me on heroin.i made the mistake of taking it when i was drunk.and like a idiot i got hooked!! Its a area in which absolutly no1 can understand unless they have been there.methadone does help.and yes it does depend on the person themselves.i just want to say that if u look at it from the bigger picture people should see it this way.DRUGS aint bad....they are good -and thats way a massive percentage of people are addicted.im noting sayin they are good for you, im sayin the feelin they give to the user is quite amazin, and thats why people get hooked.it all depends on the person, i..myself have never lost my morals to feed my drug addiction, but others sumtimes do!the goverment will never get a grip on drugs ,they will always be a part of life.and the only reason that cigerettes n alcohol arnt seen the same way, iz coz those two are in the goverments and publics eyes, a good taxable drug!!i am on the methadone programme and it has worked so much for me.There is other options
Posted by: To Rock on Aug 19, 2008 at 06:26 PM
Are you smoking the crack that you are named after? No way can I let a person who does not know how to spell or proofread have the last word by insulting everyone. Obviously you did not read the blogs because people on here have explained how they are not on the drugs, but have been affected by the drugs. That could lead you to conclude why everyone seems to know alot about them. Go back to school and learn reading comprehension, dope.
Posted by: Rock on Aug 18, 2008 at 02:26 PM
Sounds like all these people on here are on drugs the way they know every thing about them. Why dont you drug heads get a life and just shoot yourselfs so the people who work everyday can get on with there lives. You choose to do these drugs why dont you move to Afghanistan you can get all the opium you want over there. You bunch of losers.
Posted by: latisha on Aug 18, 2008 at 02:21 PM
you do no its coming alot easir to get is cause people have to make moneys to feed the family. when you cant get a job in this town, people will do what ever needs to be done to eat. it dont matter if it is weed or painpills or whatever. if you can make money selling it to take care of each other. it is better than not eating.
Posted by: Jason on Aug 18, 2008 at 11:37 AM
I say make oxy 4000mgs and 100 percent herion and let these losers take care of themselves.
Posted by: Anon. on Aug 17, 2008 at 09:58 PM
To JC, methadone IS NOT diluted heroin. Go take some chemistry classes pal. Heroin (diacetylmorphine) is one of many substances obtained from opium which comes from the P. somniferum plant (opium poppy). Morphine and codeine both come from the poppy . Many more have isolated but these have no medical use. Methadone's only role in the treatment of addiction is to make withdrawl and cravings less severe (due to its duration of action.) A drug that is gaining popularity in the treatment of addiction Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone combination). This can be dispensed by pharmacies for addiction treatment whereas methadone cannot.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 17, 2008 at 01:48 PM
pain killers are hard to find?
Posted by: Misty Blue on Aug 17, 2008 at 01:05 AM
Response to Accurate Info Methadone does have some positive features on paper. Thats not going to help drug seeking behavior. These people have a strong neurodaptation to a variety of drugs. What happens to the people who need withdraw from Methadone maintenance? Is there another drug to help? If there is no specific treatment for stimulant withdrawal how come a large amount people are getting Methadone? If a person is willing to take themselves out of that environment stimuli associated with use the cravings should diminsh with time. Granted this doesnt always work. So we return to square one Methadone or No Methadone. Methadone is just another drug to bring comfort because noone wants to feel bad when getting off drugs. How stupid are we? Using a opioid to get off opioids. Maybe there shouldnt be Methadone clinics they should just go to a pych dr. Oh my bad that would take away jobs!!!!!
Posted by: Misty Blue on Aug 17, 2008 at 12:19 AM
Now lets face it everything comes down to Cusumers, Economics and Graduating.Everyone needs money. To make money you need a customer base. Every level of Economics has trends and dry spells. So a good business person knows they and their customers need to graduate to the next level. Heroin just happens to be a booming businss venture at this point in time. I think it partly has to deal with Methadone. If they are going to use it for treatment then people need to be in a facility while taking it. Why? Not all councelers are created equal. Some will let their patients test positive a few times for other drugs and still give them their "take homes". But we dont live in a perfect world we need the drug makers to develop drugs to make us comfortable, which provides money for them, dr.s and pharmacies. Illegal sales are valuable to the economy because dealers spend money on gas, food, clothes, and entertainment just like everybody else.
Posted by: Misty Blue on Aug 16, 2008 at 11:48 PM
We all are free to make our own decisions. I have seen what happens to people going to Methadone Clinics. It is rare that kind of treatment works. Not everyone responds to the Methadone the way it was "designed to work". Many end up dying while taking their usual drugs and Methadone. We will only be able to track and monitore a small insignificant part of drug traficing and abuse. Its almost done in vain, but I guess every little bit counts. The makers of these drugs will always come out with something new and more powerful to unleash on the public. Drug addicts will always want a better high. Once you cross that line and abuse legal and illegal drug your body is hooked forever. And yes Methadone is "light wieght Heroin". There are many different treatments involving more drugs to get off drugs. Thats about as dumb as using nicotine patches super charged with nicotine to stop smoking. As time passes Heroin and other street drugs will get stronger to keep up will perscription drugs!!!!!!
Posted by: Truth_in_Knowledge on Aug 16, 2008 at 11:07 PM
Unbelievable! One person says "Get your facts straight" and then he is as messed up as the one he is condemning. First of all is there was no drug problem there would be no need for a methadone clinic. Also, the drug tests at the clinics are very specific. They can differentiate between oxycodone, hydrocodone, heroin, and Methadone! They can even give a level which will be used to detect whether or not you are diverting your Methadone.Finally, there will be a need for more clinics with escalating Heroin use because Methadone is proven to be the safest and most effective way to treat Heroin addiction. Unfortunately, fanatical groups like HARMD & MAMA have created an environment that enforces a NIMBY attitude. This leads to communities believing that if a clinic moves into their neighborhood crime rates will increase, property values will decrease and none of this is supported by th research. Meanwhile addicts in larger cities die waiting on lists to receive tx. Acceptable to some :(
Posted by: ugh on Aug 16, 2008 at 04:06 PM
The reason methadone is so big people... not only is it similiar to heroin... people arent taking it how they're supposed to... they're snorting it or melting it down and shooting it up. methadone helps VERY FEW people. as far as heroin... my childs bio father has not seen him in 2 years because he is too busy shooting up heroin now. hmmm hopefully he'll get thrown in jail!
Posted by: anon on Aug 16, 2008 at 09:21 AM
my friend overdosed on herion last year in wayne co. i had known her all my life ,she was 36, and she never would even drink a wine cooler. but she started dating a guy who was on the drug and got her to try it. six months later she died of an overdose. i was more shocked that she was doing it than i was that she died from it. she came from a good family, background,so it doesnt matter who you are or where or what you come from. this affects everyone. but what can you do? i mean really what can you do?
Posted by: Accurate Info on Aug 16, 2008 at 09:03 AM
Continued from previous post - Methadone's usefulness in treatment of opioid dependence is the result several factors. It has cross-tolerance with other opioids including heroin and morphine, long duration of effects with the result that oral dosing with methadone will stabilise the condition of the patient by stopping and preventing the opioid withdrawal syndrome, and by at least partially blocking the "rush" resulting from intravenous injection of heroin, morphine, and similar drugs.
Posted by: Accurate Info on Aug 16, 2008 at 09:02 AM
Methadone (Dolophine, Amidone, Methadose, Physeptone, Heptadon and many others) is a synthetic opioid, used medically as an analgesic, antitussive and a maintenance anti-addictive for use in patients on opioids. It was developed in Nazi Germany in 1937. Although chemically unlike morphine or heroin, methadone also acts on the opioid receptors and thus produces many of the same effects. Methadone is also used in managing chronic pain due to its long duration of action and very low cost. In late 2004, the cost of a one-month supply of methadone was $20, as compared to an equivalent analgesic amount of meperidine (pethidine) at $120, up to $500 and more for hydromorphone, morphine, fentanyl, and extended-release oxymorphone. (Continued in next post)
Posted by: JC on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:33 PM
To "Get your facts straight", people addicted to pain pills, such as oxycontin, are the ones usually going to the methadone clinic and end up getting addicted to heroin (methadone is diluted heroin) and they can use heroin to the get the high because the drug tests will show opiates anyway. To anonymous, if you use heroin, they aren't going to know that you are "doing drugs", so yeah, they will give the methadone to you and people DO sell it. To "Been there", no I have never done any of these things, but I was "lucky" enough to get mixed into a family that was addicted to these things. They went to the methadone clinic, etc., I have seen how they do their deals and how they think of ways to get more money and get more drugs. So, no, I am not the pot calling the kettle black. I am a person that grew up not knowing or being around drugs and was so naive that I ended up around people who I thought just "needed love". Unfortunately, I found they needed more drugs.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:11 PM
When I was in school (80's) you heard of marijuana more than anything. Lockerroom, rush and acid was also pretty common. You started hearing about crack around 84-85 and man did you start hearing about it. Talking about being addicted after just one use. Heroin is history repeating itself. You continue to hear about heroin making a come back and then it'll drop off and the cycle starts all over again. Meth/crank is the big thing around here now. (Sissonville) People say that stuff is pure evil. I would have to believe that after what I have seen happen to people.
Posted by: JC on Aug 15, 2008 at 04:04 PM
Hey Ike, the way I see it, get rid of the drugs around here and if someone still tries to find it, maybe it will take them away from here. You gotta tackle the problem in all directions. I am all for getting rid of the drugs first and worry about rehabs later. If they don't have the drugs, they will have to deal with the detox. Humans can handle that. I am not worried about how hard the detox is for them. Maybe it will make them too scared to get back on it when it is harder for them to find. How easy will an addict find it to get off the drugs when it is right in their face and easy for them to find? It's not wasting tax money, it is how you said "making it harder for them to find".
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 15, 2008 at 03:54 PM
If you use any drug other than the Methadone,then you don't get Methadone to sell because they do keep an eye on you to make sure you're not doing anything but the Methadone.So they can't sell the Methadone on the streets to get other drugs.So actually people are buying,stealing,or whatever they can do to get the Herion.
Posted by: Misty Blue on Aug 15, 2008 at 01:55 PM
drugs are a major problem in West Virginia and its sad. caregivers and communities need to get together and teach our youth about drug prevention and the harm that drugs cause. we know all prevention starts at home. most places in west virginia are so econmically depressed that people feel that there is nothing else to do but get high. we want more drug enforcement officers out on the streets but we complain about taxes we have to pay to ensure there salaries. we tell people to go to rehab but we dont want the facilities in our backyards. it just doesnt make any sense. drug dealers will make there products stronger to keep business up it has nothing to do with perscription meds becoming harder to get. Just about everyone knows someone who can get a perscription for controlled substances. I have seen it done and its not hard to do. Drugs are like fashion fads today its Herion and tommorow Cocaine could make a strong comeback.
Posted by: ghansdi on Aug 15, 2008 at 01:15 PM
has anybody thought of the soldiers bringing back this from afghanistan
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 15, 2008 at 12:20 PM
i saw amy winehouse in huntington the other night.
Posted by: beenthere on Aug 15, 2008 at 12:16 PM
jc,get your facts straight. most do not sell their methadone. however, sonds like the pot calling the kettle black.
Posted by: devon on Aug 15, 2008 at 12:15 PM
i can't believe you guys are just realizing this.last summer when i came back home from being gone for a loooong time,a lot of my friends were ate up with this addiction.since then ive lost a lot of friends and even family to it.ive had to dump a lot of boyfriends for it too.its not jus in huntington,its really really bad around marmet and chesapeake.i mean its REALLY bad there.they need to look into there,im tired of losing people to it.people as young as 13 are shooting it up.its too easy to get around here.
Posted by: ex Junkie on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:42 AM
This is all because of oxycontin. The reason we have a new wave of heroin users is because of oxycontin. The drug maker lied to doctors. They told them the drug was not addictive. (I'm not sure how a doctor could think any opioid was not addictive but they did.) Doctors handed it out for all kinds of pain, even minor pain. The users liked the buzz, shared it with their friends and they all got hooked. Once hooked heroin is a much cheaper fix than oxy's. No one wants to be a junkie just ask one. But this is where many people now find themselves do to abuse of prescriptions. If you get rid of the heroin, you can expect a dramatic rise in drugstore hold ups and robbing of cancer patients. Methadone can help, but really it comes down to the users own desire to quit and will power. Also, drug test don't distinguish between heroin and methadone. The tests just show opioids.
Posted by: JD on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:14 AM
more drug officers will do about as good as the surge in soldiers worked in iraq, it all accounts to a few more dead people. does anyone see anything wrong with telling people what they can put into their bodies? who owns you? i personally do not think the government owns me. shouldnt you be able to make your own decisions with your body as long as you arent affecting anyone else? what if they outlawed coffee tmrw? what kind of an effect would that have on you? the whole problem with drugs is the crime that comes with it. however, with the way the governemnt handles the drug war it does not leave many options for the addict. i do not condone the use of drugs in any way, but i dont see a reason to put them in jail for catching their preferred buzz. please people you must go to the aclu website and click on their drug policy page and educate yourself! this is very important if you value freedom. it should be important to you since we are providing the money for the drug war.
Posted by: sad but true on Aug 15, 2008 at 10:05 AM
i find it funny that this article tells the exact location, and i quote "The drug dealing is simple geography. It is produced in Mexico then shipped into the U.S., with a major trade directly to Columbus, Ohio. From there, it's heading to Huntington, then on to southern Ohio to the west, eastern Kentucky to the south and Charleston to the east." but they have no idea how to stop this from spreading, i say this country is already in debt, so hire more police officers and get the fbi and put them on these borders and monitor these locations and bust these people, who are the "big dogs" i worry about our children today and this society is becoming more reckless...
Posted by: GetUrFactsStraight on Aug 15, 2008 at 09:42 AM
JC, you have no idea what you are talking about. People at the clinic go on methadone to stop using heroin, not the other way around. Also, people going to the methadone clinic are constantly drug tested randomly so they are not able to get high from outside drugs. Just to let you know, you can research this anywhere..methadone is a much stronger drug than heroin!!!
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 15, 2008 at 09:18 AM
I agree with JC. And pills are just as easy to find. I dont know anything about heroin but I know right now, even thow I have never taken "done pills" I can walk out my office door and find anything I would want. Its sad to say but everyday "normal" people take pills to get high and its sad on the destruction it does to your family, trust me. It sucks. I hate to see any drug ruin a life but pills are so common now days its horrible.! Hopefully the cops will keep working hard to get this stuff off the streets
Posted by: IKE on Aug 15, 2008 at 07:20 AM
This is so stupid,look these people may be drug heads but they are still human!! These people will find a way to get their dope. It needs to be handled on the rehab level. Put money and resourceses into treatment or teaching people not to want to use!! Taking the drugs only leaves them with a harder time of finding it !! I am not saying it is bad what is being done, it is just a huge waste of tax money to do things in reverse..
Posted by: unknown on Aug 14, 2008 at 09:52 PM
I see no need in illegal drugs but I do see the need of more drug officers. This is a very bad thing that has been going on in this part of the country for years. The problem is growing bigger even hear in small town FortGay And I can't wait to see an end to this problem.Ilegal drugs are a waste of money.If drug users want to waste there money they could give it to someone who needs it. At least it would be for a good cause
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 14, 2008 at 09:49 PM
I must say that drugs is my worst fear w/ my son. I hope that he doesn't stray down that path of self destruction. Everyone is at risk. Great job law enforcement, keep up the good work. Citizens, if you really want to clean up your neighborhood sometimes you have to start in your own back yard. You know what goes on in the alley behind your house.
Posted by: Jess on Aug 14, 2008 at 09:39 PM
I hate to say this, but Heroin has been the "drug of choice" in the Huntington/Tri State area for a long time, nobody has noticed. I saw it everywhere when I was in high school in 2005. It's just sad that people turn to this & that drugs take over like they do.
Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 14, 2008 at 09:34 PM
I find it odd that later on down the Home page there is an article that says WV is number one of all the states with prescribed medicine and then this article says that people are doing heroin because pain pills are harder to find.
Posted by: JC on Aug 14, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Heroin is becoming big around here because of the methadone clinic. Pain pills are just as easy to find or obtain around here. It is all the pillheads that are going to the methadone clinic that gets them to start on heroin. If you get drug tested, the heroin is going to show. Most go and sell their methadone and then use that money to buy heroin for a stronger high. Wonder why health insurance doesn't pay for it?
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  • Posted By: IdiotsUAre: The United States of America was founded under God! The creator of this earth, the father of our Savior Jesus Christ. He is why we even have Christmas. So say Christmas an not holidays! If you want to say holidays then go to another county or even California it might as be its own.
  • Posted By: yuck: I don't like change, please go back to the other website.
  • Posted By: Bob: WSAZ, Why are you linking to WOWK headlines on your website? Even linking to the Daily Mail, Gazette, and H-D isn't smart - because in the online world, they're even more of a competitor to you.
  • Posted By: Bob: Someone could be shopping for Hanukkah gifts. Read a book other than just the Bible.
  • Posted By: BibleThumpers: It's actually a pagan festival for the Winter Solstice. The Christians adopted it as Christ's birthday later on and even adopted many of the pagan items, such as putting up a tree and having a great feast.
  • Posted By: g: it is the stupidest thing I have ever heard, to be offended by the word "Holiday", this all comes from you bible thumpers that all want to tell other people how to think and what to say. You offend me! This is the Holidays! Even 50 years ago before all this ridiculous crap started, cards said Happy Holidays, because it covered Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's, it is the Holiday Season! So Season's Greetings and Happy Holidays Y'all!
  • Posted By: to Lady A:: The "holiday" season also encompasses Hanukkah, a major holiday for those of us who follow the Jewish faith. We also give gifts and do "holiday" shopping this season; thankfully WSAZ is less ignorant than you are and recognizes that their viewership reflects more than one faith.
  • Posted By: to Lady A: FYI, Hanukah is also coming up and we of the jewish faith also exchange gifts during this HOLIDAY season. I, for one, am thankful that WSAZ considers all of their viewers. Your comment was incredibly ignorant.
  • Posted By: What the heck: I agree with Pat, I'm not liking the new page AT ALL.
  • Posted By: Christian not offended: Ok there Lady A, just slow down a minute. Huntingtonian made a good point. Have you ever heard of Hanukah? Some people shop for Hanukah. Jesus was Jewish, so don't tell me that being a Jew is a sin, & Christmas is THE ONLY HOLIDAY this time of year. Yes, I too love to hear MERRY CHRISTMAS, but I refuse to become upset when someone says happy holidays. How do you know if when you say MERRY CHRISTMAS to someone, your not saying it to a Jewish person? Do you ever hear them make a big fat stink about it? NO!!!, you don't. So I think you should just be happy that God has given you another day on this Earth. So that you have the time to celebrate, with your family, whatever holiday you choose. I've decided to say HAPPY MERRY KWANZ~MA~KA that way I've covered them all.
  • Posted By: Pat: Much like New Coke and the new Marco I think you've made a mistake with the new web pagedesign. I don't use Yahoo because the site is too cluttered and I feel the same about your new page. More is not necessarily better!
  • Posted By: Ari: It is CHRISTMAS it is the time we celebrate Christ being born, not Kwanzza or Hanukah. Kwanzza is racist anyways it's a celebration of being black. I have no problem with people saying Happy whatever it is but I am NOT going to watch what i say and not say Marry Christmas becasue it might offend people
  • Posted By: LadyA`: The question was, Did you do any Holiday shopping over the weekend? The shopping they were referring was Christmas shopping. What other holiday shopping would we be doing? Thanksgiving was over. It offended me like many others. It is the Christmas season and I want to see the word Christmas used, not holiday or xmas.
  • Posted By: Huntingtonian: I agree with Anonymous!! It is the "holiday season" and by definition, it encompasses all of the holidays that are coming, not just Christmas. I also am a christian and see something inherintly wrong with pigeon holing this time of year to simply "Merry Christmas." What I find really offensive is those of you who believe that it is ok to say "Christmas" but would be outraged if "Happy Kwanza" or "Happy Hanukah" appeared anywhere. So, that being said: HAPPY HOLIDAYS and a JOYOUS NEW YEAR to all!!
  • Posted By: : Holiday is in referance to ALL holidays this time of year. I have been saying Happy Holidays since I was a kid, growing up during the 80's. Christmas is not the only holiday this time of year. We did just celebrate Thanksgiving, remember. I am a Christian, that is not offended by the phrase HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
  • Posted By: ann: I agree with ladyA its CHRISTMAS
  • Posted By: LadyA: WSAZ- Could you please change the word Holiday to Christmas on your question? The word Holiday offends me.
  • Posted By: mad: To the doofus deer hunter who knocked my mailbox over on gritt rd if you cant drive any better than that you shouldnt have a GUN and thanks for letting us know you smashed the mailbox. MERRY CHRISTMAS DOOFUS
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