HEROIN USE RISING AMONG AREA TEENS

SHELTON -- Shortly before the death of a teen earlier this year from
a heroin overdose, the Valley Substance Abuse Action Council was
already planning to present "Heads Up," a program that gives insight
into heroin use and addiction.

The program, presented by members of the Philadelphia Police
Department, will take place early next month.

"We felt we were being proactive by bringing this program to the
Valley," said Pamela Mautte, VSAAC director. "Then that tragedy happened."

Mautte was referring to the death of Frank Korondi, 13, on May 6
after he had snorted and smoked heroin. Korondi was one of several
Valley people to overdose on heroin in the past year, but he was the youngest.

"According to our annual surveys of about 2,700 Valley students, .5
percent of students in grade 11 in 1998 had tried heroin," Mautte
said. "In 2005 the number rose to 2 percent," she said. "That is
significant because it shows a clear pattern, similar to the national
survey, that its use is increasing."

She said people need to understand the dangers and the consequences
of heroin use, especially parents.

"We keep hearing from students, especially in the high schools, about
how easy heroin is to get," Mautte said. "Hard drugs can be bought on
Valley streets for the same cost as a six-pack of beer."

She said parents also need to learn how to recognize
Advertisementsigns that their son or daughter might be using drugs.

"Substance abuse prevention professionals have come to realize the
importance of presenting a no-holds-barred outlook of the true damage
and destruction that drugs are causing to young and old alike," she said.

"This program is very timely for this day and age," said Detective
Sgt. Ron Goodmaster, a member of the Narcotics Enforcement Officers
Association of Connecticut. Goodmaster is on a committee organizing the event.

Heads Up, which stands for Heroin Education & Dangerous Substance
Understanding, will be presented on Oct. 3 and 4.

The first session is tailored for Valley parents and will take place
in the Shelton Intermediate School auditorium at 7 p.m., Mautte said.
The second session is geared for law enforcement, educators and other
professionals and will take place at 9 a.m. at John J. Sullivan's
Restaurant in Ansonia.

The Oct. 3 session is free but there is a $10 registration fee for
the Oct. 4 session, which includes coffee and a light breakfast.

For more information, call 736-8566.