The conversation about heroin use has been growing at the national and local level, and the town of Tamaqua is gearing up to do more than just talk about the problem.

Spurred by the recent deaths of several young people due to overdose and a recent drug bust that targeted 28 suspected dealers and users, Tamaqua Mayor Christian Morrison, over 20 residents, and Police Chief Rick Weaver used the community forum session of Tuesday's borough council meeting to get the gears turning to do more than just talk.Resident Tammy Sienkiewicz started the conversation by submitting a request to hold a candlelight walk to honor those who have succumbed to the disease of addiction and offer hope to those who are still fighting it."We wish to bring a 'light' to this devastating epidemic, to educate family and friends on ways to get them help," she wrote.For Sienkiewicz and her husband, John, the battle has become too real. They lost their daughter, Alexandria, to addiction in April."She and the others had no idea that shot would be her last breath. We need to stop burying these young people and save the next generation," Sienkiewicz added.Sienkiewicz asked for permission to hold the walk on July 30, gathering at 7:30 p.m. and begin walking at 8 p.m., from the Bungalow pool complex to the opposite end of town by the old CVS building."We want our town back, to spread awareness to our community and to show all those affected by this disease where to find the help they so desperately need and hope," she wrote.Council approved her request.Morrison continued the conversation, adding he has been contacted by several community leaders, including George Taylor of the Tamaqua Area Faith Fellowship Network, which is starting a drug awareness group, and Todd Zimmerman from Lehigh Carbon Community College, who has helped coordinate several recent town hall style meetings on the drug problems in the area."The best part of a bad situation is that I believe the public is finally opening their eyes to the problem," said Morrison. "It's going to take many groups to help this problem. Everyone's got a role." Morrison praised the recent efforts of the Tamaqua Police Department but stressed that everyone in the community needs to support the police, and continue to be vigilant, lest the system continue to be a revolving door for the criminals."The only way to beat this thing is to all get together," he said.The war on drugs got another boost from John Sienkiewicz, who said that with the help of the police department, residents are forming a citizens' patrol."This is a new version of the neighborhood watch," Sienkiewicz said. "Our objective is to observe and call police."He added that he knows he faces an uphill battle, but he called for action to take back the community."Seventeen years ago, when we moved here, this was a nice community. It's not just our community, though, it's every community."Not all of those who were in attendance at the meeting were optimistic about the future.Several residents said they are well aware of drug activity in their neighborhoods and have made reports to the police. One woman expressed frustration that patrol officers showed up to take her information, and said they would pass it on, appearing to do nothing about the activity that she had reported.Weaver explained that all of those reports are taken very seriously and are passed on to the narcotics unit."It does get utilized, and we need that information, it just takes time," he said.Patrol officers will most likely not be able to take immediate action unless they witness the activity themselves. However, reports like these help the narcotics team identify problem areas, build their case, and gather evidence so that when busts are made, charges can be filed and criminals can be found guilty and taken off the street. Weaver estimated that it took seven months of evidence gathering to complete the bust that took place in May.Council President David Mace added that he knows living next to such activity can be difficult, but asked for the community to continue their vigilance and to be patient.