How opioid addiction hits the young

Heroin or opioid addiction is often perceived to be an especially difficult dependence to overcome.

Drug use often begins among teenagers and young adults, whose formative brains are often more susceptible to their influences and potential for addiction.

Dr. Joseph Lee, medical director of Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation's youth services, is an expert on this.

He joined MPR News host Tom Crann to talk about how addiction works in the brain and how it can hit young people especially hard.

Use the audio player above to hear the entire conversation.