Kristen Polin

"I'm absolutely overwhelmed by how many parents are calling in for help," said Kristen Polin, community programs director for Community Bridges, a drug treatment and prevention program in Mesa.

Heroin "is the new drug," Polin said."It's clearly a trend that's getting kids into treatment or killing them."It's easier and cheaper than ever to do heroin, and smoking it is the preferred method.It can be smoked in a pipe or sprinkled in a cigarette, she said.

Some kids are doing "monkey juice" Polin said, where they mix heroin with water and spray it up their nose, while others are sticking it to the roof of their mouth and sucking on it.

However they ingest it, it's highly addictive and deadly, though many users mistakenly believe it's less so if they don't inject it.

Heroin is also easy for parents to miss.

"Kids are good at hiding it," Polin said.

Kristen Polin, Community Bridges' director of community development, said there's no hard feelings.

"I think the council made a clear decision that both organizations are qualified," Polin said.
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The result was Scottsdale Prevention Institute and Community Bridges found themselves competing for money, a process that Polin said was frustrating and unnecessary.

"We should have all been brought together to work collaboratively from the start," she said.

Abusers typically start with "gateway drugs," getting high on over-the-counter cough medications, marijuana and alcohol, said Kristen Polin of Community Bridges, a prevention and treatment program.
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"People underestimate the amount of drug use," Polin said.
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Polin said seventh grade is typically when most kids start experimenting

Kristen Polin, Director of Community Development, says our dynamic programs are "dedicated to teaching, mentoring and encouraging students to help them avoid substance use and to understand and believe they can have a bright, safe, healthy future even if they are working their way out of challenging situations."

In fact, it's frightening," said Kristen Polin, community programs director for Mesa-based Community Bridges, who attended the meeting with Walters.

In addition to meth, drugs of choice among middle schoolers include over-the-counter cough and cold medicines, prescription drugs and inhalants.

According to the latest Youth Risk Behavior Survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 11 percent of Arizona teens said they had tried marijuana, and 30 percent had had a drink of alcohol (more than a few sips) before their 13th birthday.

"When they go to middle school, they're pressured by their peers," Polin said."Most kids get high because they can't get themselves out of the situation they're in."

Regardless of how often their parents say not to do it, many kids still try it.The answer, Polin said, is to help children feel comfortable with who they are so they can say, nope, this isn't for me.

When they have other things in their lives, like school, sports or music, they don't need drugs or alcohol.

"When kids don't have a vision, they turn to drugs," Polin said.

Kristen Polin Community Bridges - Mesa, AZ 480-600-6754kpolin@cbridges.com

The drug's popularity has grown in the last five years, said Kristen Polin, director of community education for Community Bridges, a prevention and treatment group.

"Heroin today is snortable and smokable.It's not like sticking a needle in your arm," she said.

Reach the reporters at anne.ryman@scottsdalerepublic.com or (602) 444-6881 or holly.johnson@scottsdalerepublic.com or (602) 444-6849.