The stories are heart wrenching and they all have a common theme: a young person who has lost to heroin. State officials say there has been a dramatic increase in the number of arrests for heroin and a dramatic decrease in the average age of an addict.

Listen to the full show:

Plus, in our web specials: links to Massachusetts resources…

Last week’s webchat on heroin use in Massachusetts… from posts like this one from user "chris":

"They are asking WHY, WHY? I was addicted (clean for a year), and I can tell you why. Because life has become unbearable. People who shoot heroin need help. Something is causing thier addiction."

…you can see it was an impassioned conversation. Click on this post to read the full transcript.

Michael Botticelli is the Director of Substance Abuse Services for the Department of Public Health, he says that heroin is often the last in a string of substance abuses among teens that usually start with alcohol.

Listen to an interview with Botticelli about the increase in heroin use among youth.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick speaks with the Brockton Enterprise on developing a regional drug strategy for the Bay State. Posted by the Enterprise, May 2007.