H.B. calls for action after teen's suspected heroin OD death

Family and friends of Tyler Macleod speak before the Huntington Beach City Council on Monday night calling for action saying the teen drug problem in the city is spiraling out of control. Pictured, from left, are friend Selena Chavez, 19, Tyler's brother, Kyle Macleod, 19, and cousins,Jenna Solis, 20, and Savannah Clark, 19.

By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER and LAUREN JOW / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

An 18-year-old who parents say died of a heroin overdose is the latest victim in what appears to be a drug epidemic involving teens and young adults in Huntington Beach and across the county.

Family and friends of Huntington Beach High School senior Tyler Macleod are calling for action, saying the teen drug problem in the city is spiraling out of control.

Tyler was well-liked, funny and a varsity lacrosse player. Friends said he came from a loving and grounded family but still fell victim to a drug habit that would end his life.

About 80 people came to the City Council meeting Monday night wearing red, a color that stands out and also represents drug awareness, to show support for Tyler. Applause erupted with every speaker that came to the podium asking for help.

"We as parents are looking to you to make this environment safe for our children," said Kelly Cason, parent and family friend of the Macleods. "There's illegal drug activity going on throughout our city."

After cleaning up for more than a month this summer, Tyler started using again, said his parents Dave and Nancy Macleod. He ran away from home and his parents worried he left to feed his habit.

Fountain Valley police responded to a medical aid call about 10 a.m. on Sept. 24 at the Marriott Courtyard in the 9900 block of Slater Avenue, officials said. Police took a casualty report and are still investigating the death.

Although police officials will not yet confirm what caused the death, Tyler's parents say they know what killed their son – an addiction to heroin.

"Our family is devastated beyond belief," Dave Macleod wrote in an email to the Register. "I write this hoping that this insane drug that is known all over our city and county can be stopped so another parent does not have to go through the devastation our family is suffering and will bear the rest of our lives."

A memorial for Tyler, expected to draw more than 1,000 people, will be held on Wednesday at First Christian Church in Huntington Beach.

Huntington Beach Det. Brian Jones said he has seen a significant increase in heroin use among teens and young adults in the last three years.

"Starting in September 2009, we started running across a lot of kids using heroin," he said. "They're getting it out of Santa Ana and the ones that are really into it are going to Long Beach or L.A."

Jones said the problem usually starts with teens using prescriptions pills, such as Oxycontin or Xanax, but keeping up that habit is too expensive and teens start to turn toward heroin.

It's cheap and easy to get but dangerously addictive, Jones said.

"They seem to think as long as they're not doing it intravenously it's not as bad or as dirty," he said. "But it's just as bad and just as dirty. They get so addicted."

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