STAIRWAY TO HELL

Prescription Painkillers Open the Door to Illegal Drug Use and the
Possibility of Heroin Addiction

According to the most recent National Survey of Drug Use and Health,
the number of first-time heroin users in the United States nearly
doubled in 2009. From 2002-2008, the average was an estimated 91,000
each year, in 2009 it increased to 181,000-and that was two years ago.

"Dr. Charles Shaw, an Oklahoma City-based specialist with more than 20
years of experience in treating addiction, said painkillers have
replaced marijuana as a drug that people are likely to use first,
before moving on to other drugs. Marijuana has long been regarded as
the primary "gateway" drug.

'Many young people experiment with pain medications and become
hooked,' he said. 'Most of the ones I see are in their 20's and have
lost everything.'"

- -Associated Press excerpt

A cell phone rings. Still half asleep, Joey answers. "What up, man?