HEROIN HAS BECOME THE BIGGEST DRUG PROBLEM IN CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

HEROIN USE IN THIS COUNTRY HAS NEARLY DOUBLED IN THE PAST DECADE. THERE ARE MORE THAN A MILLION ADDICTS NOW, USING AN ESTIMATED 19-TONS OF THE DRUGS EACH YEAR. AND THE TREND OF HEROIN USE IS ALSO RISING HERE IN THIS AREA.

WHEN MOST OF US THINK HEROIN, WE GET AN IMAGE OF A STRUNG OUT ADDICT WALKING DOWN A STREET IN THE INNER CITY. BUT STATISTICS SHOW THAT'S NOT ALWAYS TRUE. MOST HEROIN USERS ARE WHITE MALES IN THEIR TEENS AND EARLY 20S. MANY OF THEM ARE FROM AFFLUENT NEIGHBORHOODS IN THE SUBURBS. HEROIN IS IN ALTOONA AND JOHNSTOWN ... AND IT'S ALSO IN RICHLAND AND WESTMONT. AND ONCE YOU TRY HEROIN, IT'S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO GET OFF IT WITHOUT HELP.

BLAIR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY DAVE GORMAN SAID, "ONCE YOU GET HOOKED, YOUR LIFE BECOMES A REVOLVING DOOR OF WANTING TO USE HEROIN, USING HEROIN, SLEEPING AND USING MORE HEROIN. ALL THE OTHER ISSUES IN LIFE, FAMILY, JOB, GO BY THE WAYSIDE. USUALLY THAT ENDS EVENTUALLY IN DEATH."

GORMAN SAYS THE DRUGS ARE COMING MAINLY FROM PITTSBURGH AND PHILADELPHIA. THE DRUG TASK FORCE HERE IS DOING AN EXCELLENT JOB ROUNDING UP HEROIN DEALERS, BUT THERE ALWAYS SEEMS TO BE MORE TO TAKE THEIR PLACE.