Prescription drugs become 'new heroin' in Armstrong County - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Prescription drugs become 'new heroin' in Armstrong County - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: "Gary DeComo saw it coming in 2007.
He held a program for doctors and got fliers for local pharmacies in an attempt to thwart its infiltration into Armstrong County.
'I said it in 2007 and this is 2010,' said Decomo, a district judge heavily involved in drug and alcohol awareness. 'The police are chasing everyone down they can get for heroin, but there's literally thousands of doses of pain relievers in the hands of legitimate users.'
Creating awareness of a problem that was predicted to exist hasn't stopped an increase in prescription drug use during the past few years nationally and locally. The common theme in prescription drug abuse is easy access — something law enforcement has been attacking by asking those with prescriptions to keep a close eye on their pills and patches.
It's become a 'serious problem' locally, said District Attorney Scott Andreassi.
'This is our new heroin,' he said."