Pubdate: Sat, 25 Mar 2006
Source: Tribune Review (Pittsburgh, PA)
Copyright: 2006 Tribune-Review Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/460
Author: Rich Cholodofsky
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN DRUG OF CHOICE AMONG COUNTY STUDENTS

Heroin addiction among teen-agers has become so  prevalent that one
Westmoreland County detective said  rehabilitation programs have
"almost become part of  school curriculums."

Detective Tony Marcocci, a lead narcotics investigator  with the
district attorney's office, said most high  schools in the county have
as many as 12 students  enrolled in inpatient rehabilitation for
heroin  addiction at any time.

"And there are so many more who are using and haven't  gotten caught,"
he said.

Heroin use among students in schools throughout central  Westmoreland
County is at an all-time high, Marcocci  said.

Jeremy Radziwon, an 18-year-old senior at Hempfield  Area High School,
died Wednesday in what officials  suspect may have been a heroin
overdose. Coroner Ken  Bacha said final toxicology results aren't due
back for  several weeks.

Police in North Huntingdon suspect that Radziwon and  two other men
traveled to Allegheny County to buy  heroin Wednesday afternoon. They
believe he overdosed  in the car on the way home.

Heroin has been the drug of choice in nearly half of  the 141 fatal
overdoses in Westmoreland County since  2002. There have been 14
drug-related fatalities in the  county this year, and heroin is
suspected in half of  them.

Dr. Neil Capretto, medical director of Gateway  Rehabilitation Center,
said the number of teens  battling heroin addiction is staggering.

"Until 10 years ago, we'd see five teens a year on  heroin. Over the
last five years, we see 200 to 300  teens a year seeking treatment for
it," Capretto said.  "We used to think of heroin use and think of the
inner  city, the bad parts of town, not in Hempfield, Fox  Chapel or
Mt. Lebanon."

The drug is cheap -- as little as $25 for a small bag  -- and its
effects can be more intense than other types  of illegal drugs, such
as marijuana or cocaine.

"The stuff is very addictive," Capretto said.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin