Star-Ledger, 13 Jun 2013 – In "Heroin epidemic grows deadlier" (June 11), The Star-Ledger discussed the rise in overdose deaths in several New Jersey counties and a reactive legislative intervention that would increase penalties for heroin possession in an attempt to combat drug abuse and mitigate these alarming statistics. Anyone who proposes harsher penalties for drug crimes in an effort to discourage use is ignoring years of evidence demonstrating that it’s not a sustainable, or even remotely effective, solution to the drug problem.