A growing problem among Long Island teenagers is the availability and usage of heroin.
Once they find themselves dependent, or abusing, the drug, where can they go?
The sad answer is, nowhere on Long Island, as stated in a prior article (http://www.examiner.com/x-27388-Long-Island-Crime-Examiner~y2009m11d5-Heroin-on-Long-Island.)
Detox programs just are not readily available in any Long Island hospital.
Newsday's cover story today is about the urgency for rehab in heroin-addicted Long Island teens. One Suffolk group, according to the article, is now requesting a law be passed which will provide more hospital beds for teens who need to be detoxed from heroin. ("Push for Heroin Help"', by Stacey Altherr.)
Altherr's article states that no law requires anyone to get drug rehabilitation, not even those under the age of 18, and the two detox centers that are on Long Island cannot legally hold anyone in the hospital against their will. It is also believed by many that no rehab stay can be fully effective unless the addicted person is willing to complete treatment.
If the new law passes, it will hopefully give teenagers the intervention they need before they leave high school as full blown heroin addicts.
Comments
im 21 from suffolk county and belive me the situation is beyond out of control..u can buy dope in any town on the island witout ever breaking a sweat..idk how the people plan on gettin rid of it but they better think of sumthin and fast
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