SANBORN, N.Y. -- Heroin addiction is a problem plaguing much of Western New York. One health care provider is constantly trying to add new services to meet an ever-growing demand.
Dylan Perry, 23, of Attica has been using heroin for the last five years.
"I couldn't manage my life. I lost jobs, I started stealing, I couldn't be there for my family," Perry said.
That came to a halt earlier this year when he went to jail, and was forced to sober up.
"It's a very painful feeling. You're body gets clammy, achy bones, achy muscles, I didn't get any sleep for almost three weeks until I got a couple hours of sleep, couldn't hold food down, sweat, sometimes I would just cry for no reason whatsoever," Perry said.
As a condition of his release after a month in jail, he checked into Horizon Village in Sanborn. While he was sober, he wasn't ready to commit to stay that way.
"I didn't know how to talk or communicate with people without the use of drugs or alcohol," Dylan said.
A mere 38 days later, Dylan said talking with people in similar situations has helped him turn a corner.
"I could speak and tell my story and people weren't putting me down. They could relate to where I was coming from, so that made it a lot easier," Dylan said.
Dylan is one of 50 people at the in-patient facility with a 75-person waiting list. Horizon Health is getting ready to break ground on another 25-bed facility next door specifically for 18 to 25-year-olds. Staff said they are seeing many more young adults coming through their system.
"We can attribute that to the rise in the abuse of opiate substances, starting with prescription medications, which turns into heroin addiction," said Horizon Village Director Rich Pozak.
Horizon Health has also purchased the old Fichte Eye Care Center in Niagara Falls to convert it into its new outpatient facility. Pozak said the current facility serves 200 to 300 patients at a given time, and the new facility will allow them to serve more people.
"These kids are literally dying from this," Pozak said.
While Horizon is scrambling to meet the demand, they can take solace in knowing they're making a difference in someone like Perry, who said he has been working out and studying.
"I want to go to college, which is something I've never thought of before, and now, since I've been in here, I get to actually work on my skills and what I'm interested in, so I really want to further my education," Dylan said.
Perry is now 90 days sober, and gets weekly visits from his mother and 7-year-old daughter. He said this is the best he's ever felt.