Prosecutors criticized the five people arrested following raids at Rochester area pawn shops for contributing to the opioid epidemic, an epidemic state and local officials met about during a town hall in Irondequoit Thursday evening.

• 5 Arrested Following Raids on Rochester Area Pawn Shops

The New York Department of Financial Services is hosting town halls across the state to hear what residents have to say about the opioid epidemic in their community; residents like Becky Baker, founder of the substance abuse recovery group SOARS.

“We need a lot of things. We need beds, we need impatient beds. We need halfway houses. We need to support these people,” Baker said.

And when Baker heard about the pawn shop schemes that allegedly recruited those struggling with addiction to steal merchandise for their stores for drug money, she was disgusted.

“It’s disheartening, it’s so sad to me that they’d take advantage of people that are struggling with a disease,” Baker said.

Chelsea Kehrli with ROCovery Fitness was also at the town hall, and says these kinds of acts only fuel the epidemic.

“It is heartbreaking to hear that, and it’s not the first instance of things that go on like that," Kehrli said. "Unfortunately, it just continues to keep people out there who are struggling with addiction, and it’s frustrating to hear that, it is.”

Federal prosecutors say 228 of the 522 people who overdosed in Monroe County as of this past September have a history of selling to pawn shops.

Kehrli is glad federal prosecutors are cracking down, but knows groups like hers have lots of work to do too.

“That’s where we on our end just need to continue to be out there in the community, and really be there for the people that are struggling," Kehrli said. "Maybe not so much about who the prosecutors are going to take care of, but we’re really there for the people who are struggling and that’s what it really comes down to.”

And Baker says there are many organizations and services like hers ready to help 24/7.

“Get help. Winter is cold, addiction is tough. There are people who love you, reach out for help. There is always help available,” Baker said.

SOARS’ 24/7 hotline is 585-771-0896. And the Delpi Rise Open Access Clinic on West Main Street is also open 24/7 to help with detox, inpatient, and outpatient care.