SAUGUS – For years, drug issues in Saugus have been swept under the rug, but recent statistics make it hard to keep the issue buried.When Police Chief Domenic DiMella learned of a recent study showing Saugus is number one in opiate-related hospitalizations in the Northeast, he was anything but shocked.DiMella has been with the detective’s unit since 2002 and said he’s seen a steady increase in users.”I had thought it had kind of leveled off,” he said, adding he has seen younger and younger users.The pattern of abuse, DiMella said, is often typical among kids.”They go to parties, maybe pop a Percocet or whatever they’ve raided from their parents medicine cabinets,” he said. “Maybe they try an OxyContin – but they’re unforgiving.”OxyContin, according to DiMella, produces the kind of high the user immediately wants more of. The little prescription pills however are expensive – out of range for most kids – which causes them to turn to other like drugs such as heroin, which is a cheaper high.How a community gets its arms around something many are calling an epidemic of drug abuse is a question the town is still struggling with.”From a law enforcement aspect it’s frustrating,” DiMella said.DiMella said his officers try going after the dealers, but arresting offenders is not enough when kids and adults are already hooked. What’s needed is a comprehensive plan that includes intervention, rehab and education, he said.DiMella said he firmly believes Youth & Recreation Director Greg Nickolas is the guy that can get the job done.Nickolas has been spent most of his summer working out the details for a comprehensive prevention program to be launched at the Belmonte Middle School in September.This past Wednesda, he pulled together public safety officials, school teachers and administrators, wellness teachers and Health Department officials, town officials from all areas to discuss exactly how he plans to attack the problem.”Just look at what he pulled off (Wednesday),” DiMella said referring to the crowd that turned out for his pitch. “I think we’re headed in the right direction.”