BY DERRICK PERKINS

A local man is facing three felony drug charges after officers found a collection of narcotics and a large cache of used syringes in his apartment, police said.

Screams led officers to 39- year-old Jason Smith’s 3 Brook Road home Saturday, Nov. 14, at about 10 p.m., where they found him “extremely high on drugs,” said Salem police Capt. Shawn Patten.

“Smith answered the door profusely sweating with several syringe and scratch marks to both arms,” said officer Thomas Kench in the arrest warrant affidavit.

Smith told Kench he had ingested a gram of cocaine, according to the affidavit. While securing Smith’s apartment, Kench found, in plain sight, two “rocks” of cocaine and prescription drugs, including Endocet and lorazepam, also known as Ativan. Patten could not say how much of the prescription drugs Smith had in his possession, but said it as enough for personal use.

Endocet is a narcotic pain killer containing oxycodone and acetaminophen. Lorazepam is used to treat anxiety caused by unbalanced brain chemicals. In his affidavit, Kench said no prescription for either drug was found for Smith.

Kench also found drug paraphernalia and about 350 used syringes inside Smith’s home, according to the affidavit. Salem fire and rescue transported Smith to Parkland Medical Center in Derry. Officers took him into custody after he was cleared by doctors. It’s the second time in less than a month Salem police have encountered Smith, Patten said. On Oct. 31, officers responded to a similar call, finding Smith highly intoxicated and both himself and his apartment covered in ***, he said.

Officers also found a 5- gallon bucket filled with used syringes at the time, Patten said. Salem’s health officer, Brian Lockard, was notified of the unsanitary conditions inside the apartment, he said.

Lockard said he inspected Smith’s apartment on Nov. 3 with property owner Camille Saade. The apartment was messy, but not enough to warrant the town taking action, he said.

“The initial description was that it was very unsanitary,” Lockard said. “There were a number of areas that needed cleaning, like the bathroom and living room floors. I wouldn’t say it was unsanitary or required any kind of enforcement action.”

Lockard did request a follow-up inspection. He plans to return to Smith’s apartment sometime in about a week.

Authorities were in the process of drawing up a warrant for Smith when they were called back to his home last weekend, Patten said. Smith was held on a $10,000 cash bail before his arraignment in Salem District Court on Nov. 16. He is due back in court on Nov. 24 at 10 a.m.