WARREN COUNTY PROSECUTOR ISSUES HEROIN WARNING

BELVIDERE - Warren County Prosecutor John Laky wants parents to know something.

As young drug abusers get older here, the use of heroin becomes more prevalent.

A report detailing drug treatment and arrest statistics for the first half
of 2001 reveals a significant increase in heroin abuse as Warren County's
teen-age drug abusers grow up.

Those statistics reflect a real-life human struggle to recover from the
painful effects of a deadly disease, and the county prosecutor said he has
evidence to prove there's a big problem out there.

"We gathered these facts to offer some concrete proof of the fact that we
have a real drug problem in Warren County," Laky said.

Alcohol remains the top drug of choice among those who sought
substance-abuse treatment in Warren County during the first six months of
the year.

But Laky said three people have died as a result of heroin overdoses in the
county so far this year, and officials in neighboring Hunterdon County said
eight people died of drug overdoses in 2001 so far.

The Warren County report notes children between the ages of 13 and 15 list
alcohol and marijuana as their top drugs of choice. Some experts describe
marijuana and alcohol as gateway drugs that lead to more dangerous
substance abuse.

Laky said abusing alcohol and marijuana serves to "break their natural
inhibitions to abusing substances."

"Most of us would like to think that those kids are enjoying sports, video
games, fishing, hunting or soccer," Laky said. "Yet we've got 55 of them
involved in treatment."

Laky said those who get treatment reflect only a small portion of those who
need it.

"This doesn't mean Warren County is in a more difficult position than other
counties in the state," he said.

The prosecutor described the problem as pervasive and universal.

"Parents have to be aware of this and they have to acknowledge it," Laky
said. "Otherwise they can't take the necessary precautions to protect their
children. We're not just crying wolf."

Laky said some parents tend to take the use of drugs like marijuana and
alcohol less seriously than the use of other drugs such as cocaine and heroin.

He said those hard drugs are just down the road for many of these children.

The countywide statistics show only 1 to 2 percent of 13- to 15-year- old
children who began treatment during the first half of the year abused heroin.

The heroin rate for young people who began treatment climbs dramatically to
21 percent among those ages 16 to 18 and a startling 39 percent for those
ages 19 to 21.

It often begins with marijuana and alcohol, Laky said.

"And the next step is going to take them to places that are going to
potentially destroy their lives," he added.

Laky said the statistics should serve as a wake-up call for parents.

"I think they should take our breath away and give us pause. And as a
community we should be saying, 'What more can we do to address this
problem?' " he said.

Laky said police are out there making drug arrests and narcotics detectives
are finding the dealers.

"There's nowhere in this county where you can escape from heroin," Laky
said. "It's in the nooks and crannies of the county. We need to know that
and we need to take that seriously."

Here are the numbers:

About 450 people living within Warren County postal-delivery areas were
admitted to outpatient treatment programs during the first half of 2001;

Of the 55 children ages 13 to 15, 87 percent admitted abusing marijuana, 1
to 2 percent admitted abusing heroin and other opiates, 75 percent admitted
to abusing alcohol, and 1 to 2 percent admitted abusing cocaine;

Among those between the ages of 16 and 18, 69 percent admitted abusing
marijuana, 21 percent admitted abusing heroin or other opiates, 34 percent
admitted abusing alcohol, and 6 percent admitted abusing cocaine;

Among the 57 people between the ages of 19 and 21, 37 percent admittedly
abused marijuana, 39 percent admitted to abusing heroin or other opiates,
46 percent admitted abusing alcohol and 14 percent admitted abusing cocaine;

About 37 percent of those in treatment were 18 years old or younger;

Sixty-seven of those in treatment live in the Belivdere area and 30 of them
were 18 or younger;

Seventy-seven of those in treatment live in the Washington area and 34 were
18 or younger;

Of those admitted for treatment, 164 live in the Phillipsburg area and 55
were 18 or younger.

Sixty-three live in the Hackettstown area, with 10 people age 18 or younger.

There were 348 reported arrests for possession, sale or manufacture of
controlled dangerous substances or driving under the influence during the
first half of 2001.

Those numbers only include arrests reported by municipal police
departments. State police statistics are not yet available.

Countywide, there were:

13 arrests for the sale of heroin, cocaine and related substances;

eight arrests for the sale of marijuana or hashish;

six arrests for the sale of barbiturates, amphetamines and hallucinogens;

35 arrests for possession of heroin, cocaine and related substances;

177 arrests for possession of marijuana or hashish;

13 arrests for possession of synthetic or manufactured drugs; and

96 arrests for driving under the influence of alcohol.