(CBS News) No parent wants to believe his or her child could be hooked on heroin, so it's always a shocking discovery. It happens every day and sometimes in places where you'd least expect it. Our colleagues at "48 Hours" have spent the past few months investigating heroin addiction in a town in Illinois. Our Cover Story is reported by Maureen Maher of "48 Hours":
It's Thursday afternoon in the leafy Chicago suburb of Naperville, Illinois, and Caroline Kacena is getting ready for a night out with the girls.
She checks her email, and lets out the dog. It's a typical scene . . . only it's not.
Because this is one dinner -- if given the choice -- none of these women would care to attend.
They're here because each of them has lost child to heroin.
"I lost my son, John, to a heroin overdose on July 23rd of 2012," said Kacena. "It devastated our family. I am here because no mother should ever have to bury her child."
Kacena doesn't enjoy telling her story, but she'll tell it to anyone who will listen, to sound the alarm that what used to be considered an inner-city scourge of a by-gone era is back, and coming to a neighborhood near you.
"It's like a can of worms, Kacena said told Maher. "The more you open it, the more you find out, the more you're seeing that it's everywhere. I mean, I know more about heroin than I ever wanted to know in my whole life . . . or ever thought I would know."
Kathie Kane-Willis, who heads the Illinois Consortium on Drug Policy at Roosevelt University in Chicago, says it's a misconception, held by many, that heroin went away.
A former heroin addict herself, she's been tracking the drug's troubling resurgence.
During the past five years, seizures of heroin in the United States by the Drug Enforcement Administration have gone up more than 50 percent, from 1,334 lbs. in 2008, to 2,059 lbs. in 2012.
Heroin use in America has skyrocketed -- up a staggering 75 percent between 2007 and 2011, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
For parents out there, here's the scary part: The most rapid growth, says Kathie Kane-Willis, is occurring among those under age 21.
"Is it in isolated areas around the country, or is this nationwide?" asked Maher.
"It's nationwide, and it's occurring primarily outside of the central city -- in the suburbs, and in rural areas. Middle class America, affluent America."
And the reason, Kane-Willis says, has to do with another, more high-profile epidemic that has been spreading among affluent teens.
"People start using prescription pain pills, and when those are difficult to get, they switch to heroin."
Prescription drug use among kids has gotten a lot of attention, for good reason. A recent survey shows 24 percent of high school students -- more than 5 million kids -- have abused highly-addictive medications like Vicodin and Oxycontin. That's a 33 percent increase in just the past five years.
On the street those pills can be expensive (as much as $80 each), so increasingly kids are turning to a cheaper, more powerful alternative: heroin. A bag can cost as little as $10.
"We see this intertwining epidemic growing," said Kane-Willis. "And I think that we will see more heroin users."
Users like John Kacena.
"He told me he was doing heroin for four months before he knew it was heroin," said his mother, Caroline.
Like many parents, she never saw it coming.
"We were the quintessential American family -- baseball, hockey, Boy Scouts," Kacena said. "I worked at the local school so it allowed me to be at home with my kids. I had my summers off. So I did everything right. I did everything I was supposed to."
Still, everything went wrong.
Jake, Peter and James were all John Kacena's best friends. They grew up together, were in Boy Scouts together, and -- barely in their teens -- they started using drugs together.
They told Maher it was during their freshman year in high school when they tried heroin for the first time -- snorting and shooting.
And if you're wondering what demons would drive these middle-class kids to use such a dangerous, addictive drug, the answer is chillingly mundane:
" 'Cause it felt so good," said James. "It felt too good to worry about the consequences."
"You don't see the consequences for a while," said Jake. "Sometimes [not] 'til you're at the point of no return, almost."
John Kacena reached that point long before the night of July 23, 2012. He had been arrested twice, and been in and out of rehab. But he'd been clean for a few weeks and was talking about going to college.
He was home, and safe, or so his parents thought.
Caroline Kacena recalled, "I woke up in the morning. I opened up his door. And I found my son sitting up in his bed, cross-legged, but slumped completely over. I could tell the moment I opened up the door by the position that he was in that he was already gone.
"I knew right away. I threw him back. Uhm, he was gray. I screamed for my husband who had just been getting ready to go to work. I screamed, 'Dial 911! I think he's gone!' "
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Add a Comment 1 2 Next » See all 30 Comments by NeuroscienceAddict August 5, 2013 3:26 PM EDT Addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease. It's treatable. Perhaps not as successfully as one might like, but on a par with other chronic diseases that require substantial behavioral change, like diabetes and hypertension.
Unfortunately, many people still don't believe addiction is a disease. That's why science-based education is so important.
For a not-for-profit website that discusses the science of substance use and abuse in accessible English (how alcohol and drugs work in the brain; how addiction develops; why addiction is a chronic, progressive brain disease; what parts of the brain malfunction as a result of substance abuse; how that malfunction skews decision-making and motivation, resulting in addict behaviors; why some get addicted while others don't; how treatment works; how well treatment works; why relapse is common; what family and friends can do; etc.) please click on www.AddictScience.com. Reply to this comment by YourRearViewMirror1 August 5, 2013 4:11 PM EDT Hey NeuroscienceAddict,
Why not PREVENT the 1st attempt before it becomes just another addiction?
For every fixed addiction with a lot of national resources and $$$, there are 100 addicts in the pipeline.
.
by YourRearViewMirror1 August 5, 2013 2:31 PM EDT Folks,
In the Anti-Establishment of the 1960's, Americans threw traditions of the time out the windows and doors. These old traditions came from the previous generations and created for own good over many generations.
Traditions have to be replaced with something or Life is Empty. Traditions keeps the mind occupied and alive.
In America, these old traditions were replaced by Drugs and Sex because life is currently sick and boring and empty.
Anybody surprised?
. Reply to this comment by Pollyanna181 August 5, 2013 9:56 AM EDT This isn't news...this has been going on for at least twenty years. White flight to the suburbs just took heroin out of the urban areas. Most of this started with parents who were too busy working to earn enough money to buy everything for their kid's room, like computers, TV's, microwaves, fridges and prescription drugs. Now those same parents are surprised their kid is a junky? They should have listened to the neighbors when we told them their kids broke out of their rooms in the middle of the night to get more drugs and sex in the neighborhood park. Reply to this comment by smallredhead72 August 5, 2013 9:39 AM EDT ALL states should be REQUIRED to pass the Marchmans Act. Reply to this comment by idontcare584292 August 5, 2013 9:23 AM EDT What is this? Oh my! The doctors refuse to treat the chronic pain with pill that work. If you have no insurance or low income insurance. Scoliosis, spinal disease, bone decay, fibro, muscle and nerve pain from injury. The state of Ohio has made doctors fearful of how they treat these pain complaints. So low income or no income people get relief how ever they can. That is why crime is higher. It seems our government encourage this outcome. Reply to this comment by Bevellisheb August 5, 2013 9:21 AM EDT I was happy to see this segment even tho it was short and did not show all that heroin addiction involves. I am a mom of 5 that was a single mom from the time my oldest son was 12 and youngest was 4. Both of them are recovering heroin addicts. My oldest son now turning 30 has used drugs - weed, pills ect. since he was 12 I believe. Finally ended up using heroin. My youngest daughter started using drugs - pills, weed ect in middle school made it to high school and started with heroin when she was 18 or 19. I do blame myself everyday. I enabled them. I covered for them. I was always there for them, right or wrong. People told me, they have to fall! And fall hard. Well I didn't listen. I truly believed I was helping. Yeah, helping them do drugs. My story is long and would love to tell it but for now I will tell you this , I stopped enabling them for the most part. My son is in a long term rehab called teen challenge, it's for men 18 and over. He has been clean for 11 months. Sadly his wife divorced him and he has only seen his sons 2 times since he has been gone, but he is clean . He lives in Vermont which is about a 9 hour drive from us. He will get to come home if he completes the program in mid December . I am scared for that. Heroin will still be here but hopefully he will be strong enough to never go back. As for my daughter she has been clean for about 6 months she had one slip up since she came out of rehab, which was a short term rehab. She has been off of suboxine for about 6 weeks and seems to be doing well. She is back home with me and my husband- her step dad. She does not like her life livening home again and working at Taco Bell but she goes and understands that if she does not work and save she won't get anyplace. I will not help her at all with money. She has to learn that she has to do it not me. I think parents need to be more educated on how to raise children in today's world. I had to figure it out for myself and I made so many mistakes. I am so happy that my children are still alive and so sorry for those parents that have lost their children to this demon. I cried when I saw the mom talking about finding her son. I can not even imagine it. Thank you for the story I hope some young people get to watch it and really listen. I watched it with my daughter and really didnt say anything at all to her. She was watching my face as we watched and I know she felt what I was feeling. I would love to be a part of the crusade to defeat this drug. However I have no idea where to begin. Reply to this comment by YourRearViewMirror1 August 5, 2013 2:39 PM EDT Hey Bevellisheb,
Let us start by not Divorcing in the 1st place.
Not too long ago: "Only Time will prove if you really love me."
Today: "Sleep with me right now to prove you really love me."
In America today, 63% Divorce within 5 years.
Do you really think Divorces have no by products or consequences to society?
.
by SanDee1Only August 5, 2013 3:40 AM EDT PUHLEEZE!!! Now that middle class, suburban white kids are doing heroin left and right, NOW it's an emergency? A "serious problem" demanding urgent action? As long as it was an "urban" (codespeak for black) problem though, THAT was OK! Reaping what you have sown! How does it feel? Reply to this comment by WinstonChurchhill1940 August 5, 2013 6:10 AM EDT ...and what have you done to defeat heroin use in your community?
by SanDee1Only August 5, 2013 7:26 AM EDT I've done PLENTY Winston! Only CBS and Sunday Morning seem to be interested in the story from "middle class America, affluent America". WHATEVER! I'm sure middle class and affluent America can handle it!
by Bevellisheb August 5, 2013 9:25 AM EDT Sadly children more children are dying from this ? I believe that was the point of the story not where they were from.
by BKWymon August 5, 2013 5:02 PM EDT Totally agree SanDee1Only. I love how they BLAME the drug (Heroin is "snecky, manipulating, etc") for these kids snorting it up their noses! If they were minorities and/or from urban areas they would be called "junkies" and blamed for their addiction. Typical White suburban hypocrisy at work and this episode exposes it.
by KyleL182 August 4, 2013 2:02 PM EDT Finally, this issue is getting the public exposure that has been long overdue. Black Tar Heroin from Mexico has contributed to a national, addiction epidemic in middle class America in the s west. My family has been impacted by this and it is ironic how closely my family resembles the family in this story. I, like other parents in the story were clueless how prevalent this drug is in high school. I strongly encourage every parent to watch this show, educate themselves and talk to their children about the risk of heroin. I greatly underestimated the risk of this drug and the power it has to destroy lives. In addition, stopping the availability of prescription drugs and the flow of cheap Heroin into the US is critical. The one thing that I believe is most important for young people to understand that one use of this drug can change their lives for ever. It is very difficult for a 15 year old to comprehend that trying something once can rob them and their families of their future. Knowledge is power and publicity like this is a great start. Thank you CBS for highlighting this important issue. Reply to this comment by YourRearViewMirror1 August 5, 2013 2:48 PM EDT Hey kylie.182,
Remove Mexico from this planet and another nation will be ready to profit from this Lucrative market.
Stop the demand and the Suppliers will automatically disappear from this planet.
Incidentally, most of the Heroin in America come from Afghanistan where America has some control over.
.
.
by Psalamndr August 4, 2013 12:00 PM EDT I've been reading up lately on the growing trend in recovery practices of utilizing Peer Support Specialist.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peer_support_specialist
Any of these struggling young addicts would qualify for training for certification as a Peer Support Specialist, if they could just get a little sobriety under their belts and be willing to tell their story. Jobs at the V.A. Hospital pay in the range of $40k to. $50k.
Perhaps if the word was spread in their community that it was possible for any addict trying to stay sober to take a short course and get a job that would not only help them stay sober and pay them a decent living, it would only ask that they try to help their fellow addicts (their peers) to not only get sober but to also deal with the underlying mental health issues that often lead to addiction and the mental health issues that are often caused by the disease.
Hope this gives at least one person out there an achievable goal or provide that motivation that comes with the inspiration that maybe there is some cause for hope.
Check with your state mental health licensing agency to see if they offer certification training. The lessons learned during the short course will provide a real roadmap to recovery from addiction and will provide the skills to manage some of the underlying issues. That should be worth taking the course whether one planned to work in the field of recovery or not. Reply to this comment by Hopeinrecovery1 August 4, 2013 11:49 AM EDT Thank you for the coverage on this serious problem plaguing our country and especially poignant in the naperville area. Sadly there is a lack of understanding in our society of the disease of addiction, and how very complicated it is to tackle. Addiction problems have existed for Avery long time. Most kids who suffer from addiction start out like all others, experimenting with a drink, moving on to a little marijuana ( (now legalized in many places promoting the idea it's not that harmful) . The disease process of Addiction derives surprisingly from as many "whole" functioning family situations as it does from what folks might consider less functional families, Unfortunately there are many more factors than whether a kid is the product of a sad family life that predict that they might become an addict. Unfortunately the stigmas and misunderstandings of especiallythe causes of the disease prevent or deter many families from seeking help when their children (or other family members) are clearly going down this path--- because seeking help draws attention to the family and so many people ignorantly assume that addiction is the fault of the family situation, Addictive tendencies are hereditary, among other predictors. Drugs are available and glamorized in so many ways in our society's media. Teens want them. They are easy to obtain. Unfortunately those kids who try the small stuff, who are predisposed to the DISEASE of addiction tend to move on to harsher more deadly substances and if that substance is heroin they are often goners before parents or teachers or clergy can really understand what is happening. Anyone who thinks addiction problems are isolated to broken homes hasn't been around the block in the addiction recovery community. Its far more complicated than pointing a finger at a family situation and saying that's the answer. The community highlighted in these reports is an upper middle class lily white socio economically privileged community that happens to be plagued by this disease and especially in young people. There are so many young people in the well to do western suburbs of chicago suffering from this disease. Whether heroin is the enemy, or alcohol and other drugs, the disease is dealy and ruins any semblance of life before it kills. Fortunately there are success stories of people overcoming addiction and while stories about the problem are welcome and helpful and long overdue a focus on the availability of recovery, success stories and the difficult daily struggle necessary to achieve the recovery would also be helpful. Reply to this comment 1 2 Next » See all 30 Comments
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