Over 100 community members met in Owego yesterday for an informational presentation on the heroin use epidemic in the Southern Tier. Presenters said that heroin is used by all sorts of people, and is not categorized by any one stereotype. The reason is that heroin is one of the cheapest illegal drugs in circulation. Presenters added that there are some warning signs that someone may be using heroin. Some signs may include an individual not caring about their appearance, having several absences, and in desperate search of money. Users may even steal from their family for money. Though Governor Cuomo recently passed stricter penalties for individuals found with heroin, presenters at yesterday’s meeting said that two of the most successful ways to decrease the number of heroin users is through education, and community action.
