In the affluent Atlanta suburbs, there's a deadly secret (Boston: 2014, attorneys)

[ATLTJL]

That's a ridiculous argument because:

1) There are other ways to make a living, even if you're poor.

2) Even if you sell drugs, it doesn't mean you have to take them

[luzianne]

Originally Posted by glovenyc

ATLANTA -- In the affluent Atlanta suburbs, there's a deadly secret.

Young people are dying from heroin. There are some people who don't want you to know about it.

In the past six years, the number of heroin-related deaths has gone up by 3844% in Fulton, DeKalb, Cobb, and Gwinnett counties. The GBI confirms the fastest growing rate of heroin-related deaths is in a cluster of Atlanta's northern wealthy suburbs. That fact is hiding in state and county records. Inside the Triangle is the story of how we found the truth.


Inside the Triangle | Watch the investigation

It's not just in Atlanta; I think it's a nationwide problem. I live an affluent suburb of Kansas City, and it's happening here too.

[Mattie]

Of course it isn't an Atlanta problem. NJ first responders have been carrying Narcan for years to counteract overdoses. The only kids I personally know of who are addicted are from the northeast.

The report is sobering, but hardly surprising. And it doesn't address the cause, which, in many case, points to the culpability of the medical profession. 75% of heroin users began as prescription opiate abusers. Once they began cracking down on prescription drug use, heroin stepped in.

Our family escaped, but I consider that luck more than anything else. One of my sons needed a couple of surgeries while in high school. He refused to take oxycontin afterwards, and I didn't get it. He knew kids were dealing in it, and didn't want to fall into dependency. I'm grateful every day that my kids were smarter and more aware than I was.

[ElleKaye]

Has there ever been a time that they weren't on drugs? I mean hell they can afford them so is this a big surprise?

[lovely40]

Originally Posted by luzianne

It's not just in Atlanta; I think it's a nationwide problem. I live an affluent suburb of Kansas City, and it's happening here too.

Yep. Happening in Northern Virginia where I live as well.

[Mattie]

Originally Posted by ElleKaye

Has there ever been a time that they weren't on drugs? I mean hell they can afford them so is this a big surprise?

Who is the "they" you are referring to? The vast majority of kids are not on drugs.

[sedimenjerry]

This isn't a surprise or a secret. The "Badlands" in North Philly are well known for supplying to the wealthier suburbanites.

[demonta4]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

That's a ridiculous argument because:

1) There are other ways to make a living, even if you're poor.

2) Even if you sell drugs, it doesn't mean you have to take them

If you don't have an education due to the environment you live in and selling drugs is the quickest way to get money, then that's what people are going to do. The people selling them aren't using the drugs, it's the affluent people buying them that are using it.

[ATLTJL]

And it doesn't address the cause, which, in many case, points to the culpability of the medical profession.

I think you hit on a very important point. I did hear of a few heroin addicts who got into it after sports injuries resulting in surgeries, where the kids were given oxy as they were recovering. Of course, the docs will cut you off at a certain point, and if they aren't trained to recognize dependence, the kids turn to heroin. It's really sad because weaning off oxy isn't that difficult if you understand a dependency has formed. The medical community can play a strong role in helping this. Someone I know was on oxy for a few weeks and forced to go through methadone treatment afterwards, which worked (she said it wasn't fun, but it was more fun than being addicted to drugs).

If you don't have an education due to the environment you live in and selling drugs is the quickest way to get money, then that's what people are going to do.

While I'm sympathetic to people who don't have the same access to education as others, this is a poor excuse. We ALL have shortcuts we could take to make more money faster. But regardless of how low your education is, you know the inherent risk involved with selling drugs...so the lack of education due to your environment excuse only gets you so far.

[Larry X]

Let's kick down their doors, raid their homes, stop & frisk on the street, then keep arresting all the dealer's & users & throw them in prison for years.