more addicts

more addicts

Heroin use rises

The number of people addicted to heroin has risen dramatically over the past 10 years in Lawrence and Mercer counties. The state Department of Health tracks the numbers through the people in treatment centers who report heroin as their drug of choice.* The department did not have statistics for the use of oxycodone, another powerful opioid.

In 1996-97, there were 13 people in Lawrence County who reported being addicted to heroin, and 18 in Mercer County.

1997-98: Lawrence, 16; Mercer, 20.

1998-99: Lawrence, 12; Mercer, 15.

1999-2000:Lawrence, 25; Mercer, 16.

2000-01: Lawrence, 36; Mercer, 35.

2001-02: Lawrence, 78; Mercer, 56.

2002-03: Lawrence, 109; Mercer, 52.

2003-04: Lawrence, 101; Mercer, 59.

2004-05: Lawrence, 136; Mercer, 75.

2005-06: Lawrence, 204; Mercer, 70.

2006-07: Lawrence, 103, Mercer, 45.

*About one-fifth of all heroin users are in treatment programs.

Source: Pennsylvania Bureau of Drug and Alcohol Programs