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Illinois sees an increase in the number of teens abusing heroin

By Staff Writer

Last month, a 17-year old drug user from Illinois decided not to participate in the Will County Drug Court program, The Herald-News recently reported. Two nights later, the boy overdosed on heroin and died.

The news provider reports that in 1999, there were six heroin overdoses in Will County. Last year, there were 26 and so far this year there have already been 12.

The coroner told the news provider that Will County does not see many deaths due to cocaine or other drugs, but has seen a vast increase in heroin fatalities. He said he would call it an epidemic.

According to the National Drug and Alcohol Abuse Hotline, heroin is highly addictive. Recent studies suggest that many teens are snorting or smoking heroin rather than injecting it because the drug has become more pure. Unfortunately, many teens believe that since they are not injecting the drug, it will not be addictive.

Parents who believe their children may be struggling with a dependency on heroin or another drug may want to consider enrolling them in a troubled youth boarding school where a trained faculty may be able to help them with similar problems. 

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