Northfield's heroin problem

Northfield, Minn. is known for being a quiet liberal arts college town, but this week, the town's police chief announced a startling drug problem in the local high school. Chief Gary Smith says more than 150 of Northfield High School's students are hooked on heroin. In addition, more than 250 current and former students may be involved in an informal drug ring, bringing in the drugs from the Twin Cities.

The Northfield problem was mentioned last month in the Hazelden Foundation's report on Twin Cities drug abuse.

Carol Falkowski is the director of research communications at the Minnesota-based Hazelden Foundation, which provides drug and alcohol addiction treatment for teens and adults. She is also the author of the drug abuse report.

Falkowski joined All Things Considered host Tom Crann on the phone from Colorado, and she says many of the students hooked on heroin at Northfield High School are actually high-achievers.

Broadcast Dates

• All Things Considered, 07/05/2007, 5:20 p.m.