I think that title pretty much speaks for itself.

Law enforcement officials say a tiny, one-dose bag of heroin, costing $5-$10, is cheaper than highly controlled synthetic opiates like Oxycontin or Hydrocodone — and easily accessible to teenagers.

“Unfortunately, today, a bag of heroin can be cheaper than a 6 pack of beer,” said John Gilbride, Special Agent in Charge of the Drug Enforcement Agency’s New York Field Division.

And this cheap heroin is deadlier than ever, according to the National Drug Intelligence Center. Unlike a generation ago, when the street drug was less than 10 percent pure — today’s version can be upwards of 70 percent pure. Teenagers are snorting it, smoking it in joints, and getting hooked faster, and overdosing more.

“Try heroin once, and you may not have the opportunity to try it again,” Gilbride says.

Wayne O’Connell, Managing Director of the Daytop drug treatment program’s outreach center on Long Island, says they are seeing teens as young as 13 using heroin.

According to the Justice Department’s National Drug Threat Assessment (2009), Mexican criminal groups are expanding Mexican heroin distribution in eastern states, taking over the South American heroin market. Mexican heroin production increased 105 percent from 1999 to 2007, while Colombian heroin production decreased 47 percent during about the same period. (1999-2006)

Heroin’s not the kind of drug to screw around with, either. That having been said, is it any wonder why people try it, if the price is really that low? Dave Chappelle said a long time ago that cigarettes were nearing crack prices. I can’t imagine he’s too far from the truth. If I was going to be sucking dicks to afford anything, I’d at least want the stronger drug.

At any rate, it certainly doesn’t seem like fighting the drug war with conventional tactics is going to work anytime soon.

(Via)

(TE)DC