CRANBERRY TWP — In a continuing battle against the state’s opioid epidemic, schools are educating students on the dangers of drug abuse.

Students at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic watched a documentary addressing heroin and prescription drug abuse, “Chasing the Dragon: The Life of an Opiate Addict,” released by the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Agency.

“Twenty years ago, there was virtually no heroin in Western Pennsylvania,” said Troy Rivetti, supervisory assistant United States Attorney in Pittsburgh, where he is the chief of the Violent Crimes Section. “Now it’s our number one violent crime problem.”

Rivetti’s primary areas of concentration have involved the investigation and prosecution of large-scale drug trafficking organizations, firearms offenses and other violent crimes.

“Chasing the Dragon” profiles the stories of several people who either abused opiates or had family members become addicts. It is aimed toward educating high school-aged students and young adults and is being offered by the FBI and DEA at no cost for incorporation into schools’ curricula.

It also profiles the cycle of addiction and looks at the tragic consequences associated with opioid abuse. The documentary also features interviews with medical and law enforcement professionals discussing the effects of addiction and how this epidemic is “unlike any this country has seen before.”

“We’re seeing people jump from pills straight to heroin. It leads to severe addiction,” said Rivetti. “Prescription pills are prescribed by physicians to address pain.”

He said reforms are being looked at for medical prescription practices.

Statistics show that overdose deaths from heroin abuse have more than doubled since 2010. More people die each year from drug overdoses than die in car accidents, according to the FBI.

In Butler County, 184 overdose deaths have been reported from 2013 to 2017, according to the University of Pittsburgh’s “Overdose Free PA” website. The website reports 73 overdose deaths were reported last year. Heroin and fentanyl were listed as the top two causes of death.

Because an opioid addiction can take hold after the first use, law enforcement hopes that this film will help generate discussions that will lead to a greater understanding of the dangers of the addiction, its impact on both the victim and their loved ones and the often deadly consequences of opioid abuse.

Rivetti said heroin in the ’70s was “very diluted,” and there was a stigma against sticking needles into arms to absorb drugs.

“Now, it’s very pure,” he said. “People can snort it.”

He also said with the recent rise in cutting heroin with fentanyl, which itself is “about 100 times more powerful than heroin,” the number of overdose deaths is increasing.

“It’s deadly. We’re seeing people die every day here in Pennsylvania,” Rivetti said. “It’s surprising to me that so many people are unaware that this is an epidemic. People are sucked into it and cannot get out.”

A question-and-answer segment with students was held after the presentation.

Questions asked by students included the severity of fentanyl, marijuana legalization and using opium-based drugs as an end-of-life care option.

Students said the documentary was educational and “eye-opening.”

“It was very powerful,” said senior Cole Friedt, 18. “It makes me say no to drugs.”

“It’s a very serious issue,” said senior Sarah Heller, 18. “These drugs are very harmful. We need to spread the word.”