YOUTH OVERDOSES SPIKING IN SUBURBS

If you think you know which neighborhoods' young people are most likely to
indulge in dangerous drug use, consider this:

Since 2000, as many youths from middle-class, suburban Bethel Park have
died from drug overdoses as from the gritty, urban North Side. Wexford has
had two teenagers die of cocaine overdoses, while city neighborhoods such
as Mount Oliver, East Liberty and the Hill District didn't lose anyone so
young.

Nearly all neighborhoods have reason to worry: The 24 deaths among those
under age 25 last year marked a threefold increase since 2000, and they're
spread throughout the county. For the first time, young overdose deaths
represent more than 10 percent of Allegheny County's total.

Nor is this just an Allegheny County problem. More than 7,000
Pennsylvanians age 18 to 24 are being treating for heroin use each year,
according to the state Health Department, a 200 percent increase in eight
years.

The tragedy goes beyond young lives lost; youth, it turns out, is usually
the launching point for all drug use. According to federal research, heroin
and cocaine addicts typically first use hard drugs at age 19 to 21.

Even if they escape early death, they're still risking a lifelong addiction
that affects their families and families throughout their community. Those
other families may be victimized by addicts' crimes or have to pay for
their treatment when their insurance runs out.

"Teenagers are really good at making bad decisions," said Patricia
Valentine, who heads the county's drug and alcohol program as deputy
director in the Office of Behavioral Health.

"Adults make bad decisions, too. But when you're a teenager, do you think,
'This could change the rest of my life'? They think they're invincible."

The growing number of overdose deaths proves that they're not.

In all, 79 Allegheny County residents under age 25 -- 138 when Allegheny's
six surrounding counties are included -- have died of drug overdoses since
2000.

Most of the deaths were caused by heroin, which has the smallest margin of
error among all major narcotics between a dose that can create a high and
one that can kill.

Westmoreland County, after averaging fewer than three deaths annually,
suddenly had seven last year, including two 18-year-olds. Fayette County
had no overdose deaths last year among under-25s, but has had four this
year, including a 14-year-old.

While there's a concentration of young deaths in Allegheny County's urban
neighborhoods, overdose deaths also have occurred among under-25s from
Upper St. Clair, South Park, two each in McCandless and Dormont, and a
cluster in the sparsely populated Fawn-Natrona Heights area.

"It's not just Fawn. It's everywhere. It's so cheap. Kids can afford it,"
said Roberta Lojak, whose 18-year-old daughter, Ashley Elder, died of an
overdose in October 2001.

Nine months after Ashley's death, her Highlands High School classmate, Liz
Gohn, succumbed to a massive infection from using contaminated needles.
Now, every Easter reminds Gohn's mother, Elaine, of that Easter in 2002
when Liz pulled her aside at a family gathering to plead for help. Every
Mother's Day reminds her of Mother's Day 2002, when Liz went to the
hospital and never came back.

"You take new pictures at holidays and put them up, and Liz will never be
in them," Elaine Gohn said in a recent interview. "All I've learned in the
past three years is how not to think about it."

Bethel Park District Justice Robert Wyda and the Bethel Park Police
Department have launched an innovative counterattack on their community's
youth drug problems.

If Bethel Park parents suspect their children are using drugs and call his
office, Wyda will order the teens into treatment. Those who are dealing or
stealing don't qualify.

Once in treatment, the youths appear before Wyda every few weeks for status
reports that may include unannounced drug testing. If the teens stay clean
for a year, the records never leave Wyda's office.

Bethel Park's drug problem seemed to peak three years ago when Officer
James Modrak, who's assigned to Bethel Park High School, made five arrests,
involving drug deals made in school, or students showing up at school
stoned or with drug paraphernalia.

There were no arrests this past school year, but not because they've solved
the drug problems. Wyda said he still sees 10 to 15 drug-related cases each
month, "and 80 to 90 percent of them are under 25." One young man told Wyda
he had no money to pay a traffic violation; his money went for drugs.

"You realize the extent of the problem when they can't even pay a traffic
ticket."

Young drug users still show up in the hospital emergency room, too.
Tri-Community South Emergency Medical Service, which serves Bethel Park,
South Park and Upper St. Clair, responded to 48 emergencies involving drug
overdoses in 2004, said Tri-Community's Nora Helfrich.

Modrak said five Bethel Park High students in the past two years had been
diagnosed with hepatitis C due to needle use.

Hepatitis C can go undetected for years before causing liver disease, liver
failure and possible death. Because of that, no one knows how many teens
have it or how many of them still share needles.

The final death toll may not be known for decades.