Today’s story this week by staff writer Linda Ball has to be wrenching to any parent. A young man, 18-years-old, became caught in the vice of heroin and apparently died of an overdose.

The teen was struggling with his addiction and he was in a rehabilitation center. A rules infraction there, minor, by all indications, forced him out of the program a week early.

Twenty-four hours or so after he was out, he was pronounced dead at Swedish Hospital in Issaquah.

More and more, heroin is making the headlines here and throughout the country. It’s growing popularity stems from its relatively low cost and the fact that other drugs are becoming more difficult to obtain.

It’s not that officials – and parents – are unaware of the situation. Or that they aren’t trying to find ways to stop the spread of this curse that claims and kills people young and old. It’s just that once heroin gets a grip on a person, breaking free is very, very hard to do.

Leaders in both the cities of Issaquah and Sammamish are aware of the problem and we are confident that they have, or will, make it a top priority. In addition, there are many agencies and organizations here in our communities to help people deal with this issue.

We all need to help stop the scourge of heroin. If we do, we can end the heartbreak as well.

– Craig Groshart, Issaquah & Sammamish Reporter