Third Possible Overdose In Just Over A Month Brings Drugs To The Forefront

On Tuesday, first responders from Ashland Fire and Rescue transported 25 year old Maxwell Pinsky from the 4000 block of Clayton Road to Ashland Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival.

While the official cause of death is still to be determined officials say they have strong evidence Pinsky died of a drug overdose.

That would be the third drug related overdose in just over a months time.

In December, Colin McKean and Jordan Roth died of similar causes.

“What’s unusual in this case is we normally have one accidental fatal overdose a year,” Terry Holderness, Ashland Police Chief.

Drug use has been a growing issue in the Rogue Valley for the past several years.

Officials say that most drugs are easily coming up the I-5 corridor.

“There’s just a real quick route from Mexico to here. And a lot of the organizations that trafficheroin andmeth as well, have logistics in place and it’s very lucrative money wise as well,” said Brett Johnson, of Medford Area Drug & Gang Enforcement.

Officials say that once drugs arrive in the Rogue Valley it’s easier than ever to get a hold of, and programs like the Medford Area Drug and Gang Enforcement agency are trying to get drugs off the street.

“It’s a lot easier than it used to be, it’s easier than it should be, so we are sending a lot of resource and effort going after trafficers,”Johnson explained.