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.

Welcome to the Radio Boston live webchat. We’ll run a chatroom like this every week while the show is live and on the air, Fridays from 1-2pm Eastern Time. Log on and listen in to our live stream: www.wbur.org/listen.

Today, our chat is moderated by Ashley West, a 20-year old recovering herion addict. Why is heroin use spreading among younger and younger people, and what should be done about it?

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…

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.