According to a News 12/Hofstra University poll, 56 percent of Long Island residents polled believe the heroin epidemic is getting worse.

Only 5 percent said the problem is getting better.

Drug rehabilitation expert Jeffrey Reynolds says the heroin epidemic is getting worse because treatment options and prevention programs aren't getting any better.

"We need to get serious about prevention, both in our homes and in our schools, as well as in our communities. Secondly, we have to make sure treatment is available to everyone who needs it and that treatment is available on demand," Reynolds told News 12.

Tom Goris, of Rockville Centre, found hope from the support of a fellow recovering addict and a treatment facility in Florida. Currently, he helps others who are still struggling with addiction by letting them know recovery is possible.

"The more we talk about it, the more it brings awareness to the problem," said Goris.