HEROIN DRUG OF CHOICE AMONG COUNTY STUDENTS

Heroin addiction among teen-agers has become so prevalent that one
Westmoreland County detective said rehabilitation programs have
"almost become part of school curriculums."

Detective Tony Marcocci, a lead narcotics investigator with the
district attorney's office, said most high schools in the county have
as many as 12 students enrolled in inpatient rehabilitation for
heroin addiction at any time.

"And there are so many more who are using and haven't gotten caught,"
he said.

Heroin use among students in schools throughout central Westmoreland
County is at an all-time high, Marcocci said.

Jeremy Radziwon, an 18-year-old senior at Hempfield Area High School,
died Wednesday in what officials suspect may have been a heroin
overdose. Coroner Ken Bacha said final toxicology results aren't due
back for several weeks.

Police in North Huntingdon suspect that Radziwon and two other men
traveled to Allegheny County to buy heroin Wednesday afternoon. They
believe he overdosed in the car on the way home.

Heroin has been the drug of choice in nearly half of the 141 fatal
overdoses in Westmoreland County since 2002. There have been 14
drug-related fatalities in the county this year, and heroin is
suspected in half of them.

Dr. Neil Capretto, medical director of Gateway Rehabilitation Center,
said the number of teens battling heroin addiction is staggering.

"Until 10 years ago, we'd see five teens a year on heroin. Over the
last five years, we see 200 to 300 teens a year seeking treatment for
it," Capretto said. "We used to think of heroin use and think of the
inner city, the bad parts of town, not in Hempfield, Fox Chapel or
Mt. Lebanon."

The drug is cheap -- as little as $25 for a small bag -- and its
effects can be more intense than other types of illegal drugs, such
as marijuana or cocaine.

"The stuff is very addictive," Capretto said.