Jul 10, 2002 3 min read

Local officials who wage daily wars on drug trafficking and who help addicts with lifetime battles against drug addiction are worried, and with good cause, that heroin use here is catching on. Fayette County has never been a trendsetter, so it should have seen this one coming. Heroin began seeping into the Pittsburgh market several years ago. Law enforcement took notice that heroin was becoming more common in police initiated drug buys and was frequently turning up during search and seizures.

The morgue was also taking notice. Within the last year or so, counties such as Butler and Westmoreland, closer to the Pittsburgh epicenter began logging deaths attributed to heroin overdoses.

Fayette must marshal its forces through prevention, interdiction and education to halt its popularity before heroin does to this county what crack cocaine did a decade ago when it ruled the streets and daily contributed to a rise in violent crimes: murders, drive-by shootings, carjackings, robberies. The county has yet to recover fully from cocaine as it is still prevalent and occasionally leads to outbreaks of violence and contributes yearly to the homicide rate.

Is Fayette ready to wage a heroin battle?

To begin the discussion those over the age of 30 must shed the image they have of heroin as the worst of the worst of illegal drugs that only a hardened junkie would crave. It has shed its reputation and appeals to the younger set. The new heroin is purer and stronger than the drug of the ’60s and ’70s. And it is no longer necessary to inject it, simply snorting will do.

Heroin is the fashionable drug of today and is relatively cheap that even high school kids dependent on an allowance can afford. Yet it is still extremely addictive, leading to the need for larger, more frequent doses and the cash to keep supporting the habit. Communities where it has already taken hold are finding thefts and burglaries have risen tremendously.

Does Fayette really want to go through this again?

The county was slow to catch on to the crack craze, allowing it to take hold before acknowledging through public discussion what was happening. It is encouraging that some dialogue is already taking place.

This time around the county has a stronger drug task force team to go after those bringing it in and selling it. And the county has a drug and alcohol commission with much experience in treating addiction.

Schools, parents, churches need to step into the role of prevention. Learn all they can and talk to their kids.