It used to be heroin was that dark and dangerous drug only the “real” addicts would even dare mess with.

Those days are long gone. Today heroin not only is readily available on the street, it is used by men and women of all ages, economic backgrounds and previous drug experiences.

In short, it has become a growing problem in Northeast Michigan and across the country.

In a recent story in The Alpena News, Huron Undercover Narcotic Team Commander Stuart Sharp confirmed with reporter Steve Schulwitz the seriousness of the heroin problem locally.

“It is still an issue in all forms, not only in Alpena but statewide and nationally. It is running rampant all over.”

While disheartening, we need not be defeated by the news. Instead, we need to work with police to expose illegal activities related to drug trafficking and push for more offenders to get into drug intervention programs.

Sharp believes such programs are the key to battling addiction problems locally.

“If we can get addicts into remission, we can reduce the demand and if there is no demand, there isn’t as many drugs.”

In the war against drugs, often times it takes one small step before we are running.

It seems to us that rehabilitation and treatment is a good place to start.