Pubdate: Tue, 18 Dec 2001
Source: Daily Herald (IL)
Copyright: 2001 The Daily Herald Company
Contact:  http://www.dailyherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/107
Author: Trisha Hawkins
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

WE MUST FIND SOLUTION TO STOP HEROIN'S TOLL

I am writing in response to the recent articles written on the addiction to 
heroin. They have really brought the reality to my eyes. The drug has 
definitely spread to the suburbs. It will get the most innocent people, the 
ones you least expect. It really is the saddest thing I have ever witnessed 
in my life.

People are so concerned with things like pot and alcohol that they forget 
about the big drugs like cocaine and heroin. I have watched my own friend 
be taken down by the drug. She makes those late-night trips to the city; 
she has those withdrawals that kill. The girl next door who used to play 
Barbies and watch cartoons now cares only about getting one more high.

Not only does it kill the users, but it kills the people around them, the 
ones who really care. Every time they snort or shoot up, it kills a part of 
their family as well.

The question isn't why do these kids do it; it is how should we fix this 
problem? What can we do as a society to help? We can't just push this away 
or turn our heads the other way. Every time we push or turn, someone will 
be shooting up and risking his or her life. We can't make the addicts quit; 
they have to want to stop. We need to provide places for help. We need to 
make it more known and face the truth.

There are programs given throughout elementary and junior high school, but 
they don't give the "real deal." I have never heard of kids learning about 
those withdrawals where people can feel like they are going to die, the 
pain in their bones, or the kicking or the sleepless nights. Maybe they 
need to focus on that and not make little jokes about kids smoking pot, 
because it is not a joke at all.

These are real human beings we are talking about, not some little cartoon 
in a book. Something needs to be done. There are people we don't hear about 
dying every day from heroin overdoses. I know I don't want to see my friend 
be one of those people.

Trisha Hawkins, Arlington Heights
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