The untimely passing of one of the greatest musicians of all time is proof that we are in the midst of an opiate epidemic. There is no community that can escape the scourge. We have to stop denying it. We need a drug treatment center on Seven Mile Island complete with counseling, a methadone program and a needle exchange program. We need to help all members of our community who are victims of addiction. Ignoring it will make the problem worse than what it is.