I would like to thank The Signal staff for helping bring more awareness to the heroin problem we have in Santa Clarita through your four-part heroin series.

Heroin will turn your child into someone you no longer know and will make them do things they normally never would have done. Sadly, it can destroy families and friendships.

The pain felt when you find out your child is abusing this drug can never compare to the pain you feel every day after your child has died from an overdose of it.

Drug addiction does not discriminate. Denial, shame or giving up are never options.

The community of Plano, Texas, has never given up the fight, and neither should any of us in Santa Clarita. As a community, we must continue to work together in bringing awareness and education to our young people.

Unfortunately, since losing my son, Santa Clarita has lost several more young people to heroin overdoses, too.

Our children are the greatest blessing we are ever given. I hope that in 2012, we can continue to move out of denial, and as a whole community, adopt the belief that if we are not part of the solution, then we are part of the problem.