Northampton Area High School hosted a presentation Monday night on the recent heroin epidemic that has been sweeping not only the nation, but the Lehigh Valley as well.

A HOPE (Heroin and Opioid Prevention Education) program was presented by The Center for Humanistic Change, designed to educate both students and area residents on what it means to be an addict in this modern age and the importance of standing together to prevent it from encompassing the youth.

HOPE was developed to respond to the growing concern around the heroin and opioid epidemic in the Lehigh Valley and throughout the state of Pennsylvania. By participating in the program, teaching professionals, administrators, students and parents will be able to identify:

• what heroin and opioids are;

• the signs and symptoms of someone using;

• the effects of use on health, relationships and life; and

• local resources and where to go for help.

Pennsylvania ranks No. 2 in states with the most overdose-related deaths per year and has now officially become a state where overdose- related deaths for people between the ages of 20 and 44 outnumber car accident-related deaths per year.

“This is not an inner- city problem; this is an everywhere problem,” said Karen Korpics, program director for HOPE. “We need to stop being embarrassed and afraid to talk about it because we want to be able to give the kids the help they need.”

Approximately 34,000 teens ages 12 to 17 try heroin yearly. Studies show that 500,000 people in the United States are currently addicted to heroin; 2 million are addicted to prescription opioids. The problem begins early and is now growing in numbers each year. But Korpics believes that the problem lies in the lack of education we give people, as well as the fear method we have behind the drug culture.

“We need to focus on recovery more than jail,” said Korpics. “District attorneys say constantly that we can’t arrest our way out of this. It is a health problem.”

The presentation involved a PowerPoint showing different facts and information, video interviews and in-person conversations with three mothers from various areas in the Lehigh Valley who were affected by addiction. Two of the mothers lost their sons recently to addiction, while the third mother’s daughter is now, thankfully, seven years sober. When it comes to drug overdoses, gender does not sway one way or the other - both men and women are slowly becoming near equal in the amount of deaths per year.

The mothers discussed the warning signs and the damage that could be done. One mother stated the second you find out your child is in trouble, you need to be on top of them, watching like a hawk constantly.

“They will get mad at you,” she said, “but take it from me. I would do anything for him to be mad at me for just one more day. Them being angry is nothing compared to them being gone.”

The program facilitators discussed opioids, which are medications that relieve pain. They reduce the intensity of pain signals reaching the brain and affect those brain areas controlling emotion, which diminishes the effects of a painful stimulus. Once these medications are taken, the brain will never forget the feeling. Medications that fall within this class include hydrocodone (Vicodin), oxycodone (OxyContin and Percocet), morphine and other related drugs.

Most children first encounter these medications through wisdom teeth surgery or other injury-related pain prescriptions. The drugs are highly addictive and, without the proper training and usage, can lead to dangerous consequences. Since the price and availability for these drugs are both high and tough to come by, heroin soon comes into play as a cheap alternative for those in need of a fix.

Ranging from $5 to $15, heroin’s cheap buy rate and high level of addiction make it a very dangerous drug.

The HOPE presentation is being done at multiple locations throughout the Lehigh Valley. For more information, visit The Center for Humanistic Change’s website, thechc.org, or call 610-443-1595.

The Center for Humanistic Change will present a program May 12 at Nazareth Area High School. “Rebound: The Chris Herren Story” will begin 7 p.m. Herren is a former NBA player who was plagued with substance abuse. He is now a motivational speaker on the subject. The event is free, and the public is invited to attend.