It's time to do the math and connect the dots between the Taliban in Afghanistan and the growing number of heroin overdoses on Long Island.

The majority of the world's heroin is made from the poppy fields of Afghanistan and the northwest tribal area of Pakistan. All of the heroin from this region is controlled by the Taiban.

It's long been held true that the heroin found in the U.S. comes strictly from the fields of Mexico and Columbia; Mexico providing the west coast with its cheap "black tar," and Columbia providing the east with its "white heroin." This is no longer the case, as a growing number of law enforcement agencies across the country are identifying and reporting Afghan heroin on their streets.

Since 2002, Opium production in Afghanistan has gone up over 50 percent making it the world's undisputed leader. This is in part due to recent favorable growing conditions, but mostly, as one might guess, it's political. It's hard to win the hearts and minds of the Afghan people if we destroy their one and only cash crop. For this reason the government of Hamid Karzai has convinced coalition forces that we cannot destroy the poppy fields until we find an equivalent replacement for its farmers to make a living. The result has been poppy production the likes of which have never been seen with nearly every cent going directly or indirectly to the Taliban. Some government reports suggest that last year's Afghan crop was so record breaking in size and strength that it was over and above the entire world's demand. Which suggests the Taliban may be stockpiling their supply surplus; ready and waiting to flood the market with even cheaper, stronger and deadlier heroin than ever before.

There have alrady been at least 37 deaths from heroin in Nassau County since the beginning of this year. Many of these, including Natalie Ciappa of our hometown Massapequa, were in their teens. The surge in use among teenagers has much to do with the increased purity of heroin. Because of its high quality it can be snorted, rather than injected intravenously. Snorting heroin doesn't have the same negative social stigma attached to it that shooting does and many kids actually see it as something that's rather sophisticated, adult-like, or "herion-chic," as they say. Unfortunately, snorted or injected, heroin is still deadly and either method can easily kill on the first try.

The young people I've talked with anecdotally confirm that heroin is rampant in our high schools. As one local teen proudly put it, "it's as cheap and easy to get as a happy meal." It's usually sold in a bindle, a tiny paper envelope, or those glassine postage stamp baggies with the "brand," often a cartoon character or some hip slogan like "Get High or Die Tryin'," stamped upon it. Most dealers are willing to give any new customer their first "happy meal" away for free in the hopes of an easy hook and steady returns.

I've written and left voice messages with a number of local politicians regarding this form of terrorism that's being targeted toward our children, but I've yet to get a response. In all fairness, it's summer and many are on vacation. In the mean time, I urge all parents to take up the fight; write your local politicians, put pressure on school administrators, local police departments and most importantly talk to your kids. Be honest. Tell them why heroin is a drug like no other. A new school year is approaching and the next Ground Zero is here.

The writer is a resident of Massapequa