KEMAH — October is Substance Abuse Awareness Month, a time dedicated to prevention and education in the fight against addiction. Across Galveston County, law enforcement officers say the dangers of drugs aren’t just national headlines — they’re right here at home.

Kemah Police Chief Raymond Garivey said his department encounters a wide range of narcotics, from marijuana and cocaine to opioids and methamphetamine. “The types of drugs that we deal with here in Kemah, they vary,” Garivey said. “Opioid, marijuana, cocaine… we’ve even had some arrests involving meth. And being an entertainment community, alcohol often mixes in with those. It happens more than people think.”

Garivey said fentanyl remains one of the most alarming trends — deadly and increasingly common across the area. “We deal with it four or five times a year, but we know we’re missing some,” he said. “The cartels are trying to get that stuff into our communities to poison our kids, to poison our families. It’s a big trend — it’s probably the number one thing we’re dealing with.”

To combat overdoses, Kemah officers now carry Narcan, the nasal spray that can reverse the effects of opioids. “We keep Narcan in all of our police vehicles — not just to help someone overdosing, but to protect our own officers if they’re exposed,” Garivey said. “Even business owners are keeping it on hand. That alone should tell you we’re dealing with an epidemic.”

The chief said awareness and training are vital, not just for officers but for the community. “You’ll see changes in behavior,” he said. “Someone who’s suddenly angry, sleepy, losing weight, not doing their schoolwork or showing up to work — that’s when you know something’s not right.”

Garivey, who once taught the D.A.R.E. program, said outreach and education remain powerful tools. “I remember the old D.A.R.E. program. I taught it. People said it didn’t work anymore, but if I talk to a hundred kids and reach just one, we’ve done our job. We saved a life.”

Local churches and nonprofits are also stepping up to help those seeking recovery, providing free Narcan, counseling, and rehabilitation programs. “You’ve got to want help,” Garivey said. “But once you ask for it, there are people ready to guide you — nonprofits, churches, even former users who’ve turned their lives around. The next step after addiction is death, and we’re here to stop that.”

Garivey’s message to those still struggling is simple: “Think about it before you do it. Your life matters.”

As Substance Abuse Awareness Month continues, Garivey said the mission goes beyond arrests — it’s about saving lives.

_{Photo credit: KGTX 7/Stephen Bernardoni}