As parents, we want to be able to provide and protect our kids.  Sometimes that task seems easier than others. Being a father myself, I know how anxiety inducing it is worrying about their welfare.  Perhaps one of the common, biggest fears we all face is the drug factor.   You can’t turn on the news today without hearing something related to illegal substances.  And of those, none is more addictive or deadlier than heroin.

Whether you’re aware or not, heroin has become a statewide epidemic in New Jersey and it has taken its toll on our youth.  The stereotypical junkie is no longer standard—the scary truth is that the majority of users are high school and college-age kids.  In the past year alone, over a thousand teens and young adults have died from a drug overdose; over half of them involved heroin.  Drug abuse has now surpassed car accidents to become the number one cause of death among young people.  In my practice, I have seen over the last few years an astronomical increase in kids from great families, college bound with their whole lives ahead to them, come crashing down from this plague.

But why is this happening?  Believe it or not, much of it stems from prescription painkillers.  There has been a significant increase in the use of opiate-based drugs here in New Jersey.  Since such substances are initially prescribed by doctors, people often underestimate their potency and addictive nature.  Opiates can cause strong physiological and psychological dependency that leaves many scrambling to find another source to feed the withdrawal when the pills finally run out.  Sadly, many turn to heroin because it’s a cheaper, more available substitute to those painkillers.  A single dosage on the street can be as low as $5.00.

Our state is a prime location for the distribution of this deadly substance, and Paterson appears to be the current hub.  Sandwiched between New York and Philadelphia, New Jersey has become a gateway for heroin to enter our neighborhoods and our children’s environments.  Our state has very harsh penalties for possession and those caught under the influence of such illegal substances, even for young adults.

Keeping our kids safe takes vigilance; drug and heroin addictions can happen to anyone.  If your teen has gotten into trouble with the law because of this, it’s important you seek immediate legal assistance.  An illegal substance conviction will have a far-reaching impact on your child’s future and more importantly their life.  What they need is treatment—not a prison sentence.  Call me, defense attorney David Polsky, at (973) 686-9787 to talk about your concerns and find out how I can help.