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Authorities Say Heroin-Related Deaths On The Rise In Delaware County

By Todd Quinones

RIDLEY PARK, Pa., (CBS) -- As law enforcement experts put it "even good kids can make bad choices," and they are trying to warn parents heroin use among young adults is here in the region and parents cannot afford to bury their heads in the sand.

Heroin is cheap, addictive, and high school kids in Delaware County and throughout the region are using it at an alarming rate.

That's according to Ridley Park Police and Delaware County District Attorney John Whelan.

"What we are finding is police are coming to the scene, parents are coming home and they're finding children or young adults with needles in their arm keeled over because of the effects of heroin," Whelan said.

Local law enforcement indicates heroin is flooding our region with deadly consequences.

According to the D.A.'s office, between 2011 and 2012 there were 60 heroin related deaths in Delaware County, and in 2013 alone another 60 people died from heroin use.

The recent death of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman has drawn a national spotlight to the dangers of heroin, but police want to make clear teens are using too, partly because it doesn't cost a lot.

"You can get a bundle of heroin for $75 versus one Oxycontin," Ridley Park Police Corporal James Nasella said.

"It can touch any family. It can touch any race, any ethnic group," Ridley Park Police Corporal Robert Frazier said.

At Ridley Middle School Thursday night a town hall meeting was held alerting parents to the rising increase in heroin.

Experts indicate most kids jump from using prescription pills to using heroin and they gave parents signs to look for to determine if your child might be using.

A message mom Barbara Margolis says her two sons needed to hear before the reach their teenage years.

"I'm disappointed and saddened by the use at such a young age in this area," she said.

For more information:

To reach the Delaware County Crisis Connections Team, call 1-855-889-7827.

For more information on Narcotics Anonymous, visit: http://naworks.org/.

http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/drug-addiction/basics/symptoms/con-20020970

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