MARYSVILLE, Ohio -- It's the fastest growing drug use problem in Central Ohio and now, one community is concerned about their teenagers becoming recreational users and addicts.
One local community said it has seen heroin use and drug overdoses rise within the last few years and now there is a growing concern that students may be getting involved.
According to The Union County Sheriff's office, in the last few months, three people between the ages of 16 and 25 have overdosed on heroin.
With school starting for area students on Wednesday, officials said it is a crucial time to get the word out about the dangerous drug to both parents and students.
"It's making quite a comeback in our area. It's very deadly. It's one of the most addictive substances we know of," said Sgt. Chris Skinner, of the Union County Sheriff's office.
To combat the issue, Skinner said the sheriff's office and Marysville police are taking a proactive approach, letting parents know what to watch for in hopes that the number of cases will decrease.
"(Parents should) make sure they know who their (children's) friends are (and) know if they've had a change in friends, change in behavior," Skinner said.
NBC 4 attempted to contact the Marysville School District and were unable to reach officials on Tuesday.
The police department said it is working closely with school administrators, saying they believe much of the drug is coming from Central Ohio -- an area known as a pipeline for drugs.
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