Poll: LI heroin problem only getting worse

A new poll shows many Long Islanders believe the heroin problem here is only getting worse.

In an exclusive News 12/Hofstra poll, people were asked if they thought the heroin problem on Long Island was getting better, worse or staying the same.

The results reveal that about 61 percent of those asked believed it's getting worse, 16 percent say it's the same and 4 percent think it's getting better. A total of 19 percent were undecided.

Drug treatment specialist Steven Chassman says he's sure the problem is getting worse. He says that over the week leading up to Thanksgiving, he personally heard of three fatal heroin overdoses on Long Island.

Chassman says more needs to be done at the state and local levels.

"We haven't done well in establishing aftercare -- including sober high schools for people coming out of treatment and really supporting them as their journey of recovery is supposed to continue," says Chassman.