“National politics, as it does every four years, has taken center stage here. Yet there is no ignoring the national public health crisis that has been raging for years in the very idyllic New England communities where Democrat and Republican presidential hopefuls are now stumping for votes.” USA Today’s Kevin Johnson on the heroin epidemic that shadows the New Hampshire primary.

+ During the crack epidemic, we wanted to lock up all the users. The heroin epidemic has been marked by sensitive political speeches on the topic of drug addiction, and a call to treat the abuse of the drug as an illness not a crime. Did we get enlightened, or did the situation just get en-whitened? From the NYT: When Addiction Has a White Face.