The Patriot Ledger has begun an occasional series on the drug-abuse epidemic on the South Shore, where an overdose claims a life every eight days.

Records gathered from police, courts and the medical examiner shatter stereotypes about who gets sucked into this deadly vortex. It's not all young adults. The median age of overdose victims is 41. And they're not the dregs of society. They are homemakers, professionals, students and laborers.

With every new set of statistics we see the problem expanding deeper into our communities and killing people at unprecedented rates.

RECENT COVERAGE

LAURA MARTIN: Time to end the silence about heroin

White House's new anti-drug 'toolkit' mirrors efforts on South Shore

Brother, friend of Weymouth overdose victim hope speaking up will help save lives

Anti-OD drug carried by Weymouth firefighters is saving lives

Instruction in use of Naloxone has helped hundreds

Weymouth parents hope daughter's overdose prevents more

107 victims remembered at Quincy drug overdose vigil

Vigil in Quincy to remember overdose victims

Impact Quincy to share $1.2 million to fight effects of drugs, alcohol

A mother's struggle to help her drug-addicted son

Small towns on South Shore not immune to drug deaths

Overdose deaths from painkillers surging, but methadone deaths peak

Keating visits Weymouth to announce anti-drug-abuse legislation

Death certificates tell story of complex South Shore overdose epidemic

Eastern Massachusetts outpaces the nation in heroin-fueled ER visits

Ex-Celtic Chris Herren preaches drug dangers at Whitman-Hanson

Phony oxycodone prescriptions lead to dozens of arrests

Police say needle on Quincy beach no sign of drug trouble

Death certificates tell story of overdose epidemic

Heroin claims another victim and a family wonders why

OUR OPINION: Stereotypes hobble ability to fight drug addiction

Where to find help for drug addiction

Drugs on the street, in your medicine chest

The ABCs of heroin

Click here to email a letter to the editor, Write us at Your Views, The Patriot Ledger, 400 Crown Colony Drive, Quincy, MA 02169. Leave a comment below or call 781-340-3157 and leave a short message that we might post as an audio letter.