Heroin Use Keeps Increasing in New Jersey [AUDIO]

Even with stepped-up education and law enforcement efforts in recent years, heroin overdoses continue to rise in New Jersey - so what's going on?

"The growing heroin problem in Jersey among young people is directly related to what's happening at home - they're starting by using prescription pills that their parents have in the medicine cabinet, their friends get it, they're getting it from their friends," says Special Agent for Drug Enforcement Agency, Timothy McMahon.

He says many young people think because medicine was prescribed by a doctor it's not as dangerous as heroin, but what happens is "either they get used to the high and they're looking for something more, or the pills themselves just become too expensive, and heroin, where they can get the same high, or an even bigger high is much cheaper."

McMahon adds a lot of people start off thinking they'll never move to heroin.

"But once they start getting high, all they want to do is get an even better high than the one before."

He also points out New Jersey is an entry-way, which means a lot of the Colombian and Mexican heroin is coming directly into New Jersey. The heroin hasn't been cut down yet, it hasn't been mixed with other adulterants yet, so it is a purer level of heroin, and it's sold at a very low price.

"What it comes down to," says McMahon, "is supply and demand, and right now there's plenty of both."