Heroin moves into Connecticut suburbia

By Grace E. Merritt

"For the first time ever, heroin has surpassed alcohol as the primary drug for those seeking rehabilitation treatment in the state, said Peter Rockholz, deputy commissioner of the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services..."

"'You look in any affluent, upper-middle-class town where kids have money and time and that's where it is,' said [a 20-year-old University of New Haven student and] recovering OxyContin and heroin addict from North Haven. 'It's the kids who you would never tag - the kids who are on the honor roll, the kids who play varsity sports, the kids who come from good families...'"

"Heroin is most popular among young adults aged 18 to 25 in the state, although there is rapid growth in the 13- to 17-year range. In fact, prescription painkillers have now become the first drug that most young people aged 12 and older try, surpassing marijuana, which had always been considered the gateway drug..."

Full article available at http://www.courant.com/news/custom/topnews/hc-heroinsuburbs1221.artdec21...