If you think about it, even for just five minutes, everyone knows of at least one drug user in their circle of family, friends and acquaintances.

It might be a friend of a friend, or a beloved relation, but the illegal use of drugs, especially heroin, has reached epidemic proportions. It's not just where you would typically think of a drug problem, in the big cities, but major drug problems are found right here, in rural America.Todd Zimmerman, an adjunct professor at Lehigh Carbon Community College, is determined to drag the addiction problem into the light by educating the public about the growing threat.He is hosting a Heroin Town Hall meeting Wednesday in the Tamaqua School District Auditorium, 502 Penn St. The town hall will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. and is open to every age group.Featured guest speakers will include Dr. Rachel Levine, Pennsylvania's Physician General; Gary Tennis, Pennsylvania's Secretary of Drug and Alcohol Problems; Judge James A. Goodman, Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas; Judge Joseph Matika, Carbon County Court of Common Pleas, who was also a featured speaker at the Jim Thorpe meeting; and Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman.In addition to the town hall, Zimmerman has reached out to the students and parents of the school district, offering parents an informational letter explaining the dangers of opiate-based prescription medications and a list of such drugs."When your son or daughter is injured, you do not have to simply accept what the doctor is prescribing for pain. Alternative, nonaddictive pain killers can be used instead," he explains.Senior high school students have been encouraged to create opiate addiction awareness posters in a contest running until April 29. Cash prizes will be awarded to three students. The contest is open to all Schuylkill and Carbon County ninth- through 12th-grade students.While Zimmerman knows illegal drug use will never be completely eradicated, he feels properly funded rehabilitation centers and drug education programs in schools will be useful weapons in the fight."We need to keep this issue at the forefront so addicts, friends and family members know where they can turn."