WHEATON, Ill. – “Not my kid.” That’s what Kim, one DuPage County mother, thought about heroin use. Her son was an accomplished athlete with a normal childhood and a strong circle of friends.

Yet Kim discovered what police departments throughout DuPage County have found: heroin truly is an equal opportunity epidemic. Its reach cuts across all age groups and socioeconomic groups, and its consequences are deadly. Kim and her son Nick, a recovering heroin addict, share their powerful story in a new video from the City of Wheaton Communications Department, “Heroin in DuPage County: An Equal Opportunity Epidemic.”

The show’s moderator, Kent Williams of the DuPage County Chiefs of Police Association, says Nick and Kim’s story reflects a growing epidemic in the area. In the month of July 2013 alone, there were 18 heroin deaths in DuPage County.

“It’s a living nightmare, and it’s here to stay,” Williams said. “Really, the only answer to this nightmare is early intervention through education.”