Law enforcement officials and community organizers in New York State have begun to notice a troubling trend: heroin abuse among teenagers is on the rise. Southampton Town Police Department commanding officer James Kiernan says that arrests for possession have not increased, but use is definitely higher.
“The reason way, he explained, has to do with the increase in people experimenting with prescription pain killers. Kids who may find it easier and not frightening to swipe a few pills from their parents’ medicine cabinet become addicted to opiates. And, since prescription pain killers are harder and more expensive to get on the street… heroin… soon becomes the go-to drug.” [Source: The Independent]
Undercover cops have learned the tricks dealers use to “get people addicted” in order to increase their business and their income. Though the increased use itself is disturbing, what’s especially troubling is that the average age of a heroin user has steadily dropped. It used to be the drug of choice for those in their 30s or 40s, but today, teenagers and young adults are the most common users.
Posted By: Aspen Education Group