In the Philadelphia area, it is frankly an epidemic.

All around the Northeast/Mid-Atlantic United States, up and down I-95 from Boston to Washington DC, is the Heroin crisis in America.  

Thousands of people are addicted to this potentially fatal drug.  MANY are homeless.  Many have overdosed.  Some tried the drug because they were involved with other, less harmful drugs, that no longer gave them a "high".  A large number of people on Heroin started out on prescribed painkillers, became addicted and frankly, Heroin is cheaper.  They may have been given the medications from a Doctor due to an injury or chronic condition, or, tried them for recreation.  

It does not discriminate and it's a major issue in Philadelphia so much that the Kensington Section of Philadelphia (parts of 19134 and 19125) has literally, made national headlines as the "largest open-air drug market in the Northeast United States" (drugs inc) and the "Heroin capital of the Country" (drug inc).   

However, although Kensington is the most visual example of the Heroin epidemic and painkiller addiction, it is not confined to these zipcodes.  In fact, a 2023 report from the Managing Director's office stated The overdose crisis is citywide. In 2021, most fatal overdoses occurred outside of the Kensington area" and "Overdoses are increasing in communities of color. In 2021, Black Philadelphians aged 35-44 died from unintentional overdose more than any other racial/ethnic group"  

Many of the articles and videos associated with Heroin addiction on this page specifically focus on Philadelphia and many are emotionally draining, particularly for those living in and around the areas spoken about OR who know/knew people suffering.  It is understandable if you need to step out of this class the day(s) this topic is discussed.