To the Editor:

I believe that your in-depth look at Northern Virginia’s heroin subculture (“Police Arrest 20 for Heroin Use in One Day,” Connection, March 2-8, 2016) ) was a step in the right direction towards helping to lift the stigma from drug users. You chose to expand upon the stories of the 20 people recently apprehended for the possession and/or distribution of heroin instead of simply focusing on the crime itself. I applaud how the fine men and women of the police departments of Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William counties chose to opt for rehabilitating those arrested instead of simply detaining them and risking that they return to drugs. Instead of placing a “bandage” on the chronic issue, they decided to treat the wound itself in order to prevent it from happening later on. It was very thoughtful and sensitive of them to realize that this wasn’t just a private trouble in the lives of the addicts, but instead a public issue in their community that needed to be rectified. Helping the victims out of their addictions instead of just incarcerating them may have also helped in reducing the number of deaths attributed to heroin and the health consequences that result from its use as well. All in all this was a very well written paper and your dedication to providing the whole truth about the situation is refreshing and welcomed.

Preston Taylor

Springfield