Klobuchar recently called on the Drug Enforcement Agency to increase its focus on the deadly spike in heroin use in Minnesota and across the country 

Klobuchar joined law enforcement, local advocates, drug experts, and Laura Moore, who lost her son to a heroin overdose in 2012, to discuss ways to combat this dangerous drug; in the first six months of 2013, 91 people died of opiate-related overdoses in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties

Minneapolis, MN – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today led a roundtable discussion to highlight efforts to combat heroin use in Minnesota. Klobuchar has recently called on the Drug Enforcement Agency to increase its focus on the deadly spike in heroin use.  The discussion included Department of Human Services Commissioner Lucinda Jesson, Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, Buffalo Police Chief Mitchell Weinzetl, State Senator Chris Eaton, drug expert Carol Falkowski, Hazelden Vice President William Moyers, and Laura Moore, who lost her son to a heroin overdose in 2012. In the first six months of 2013, 91 people died of opiate-related overdoses in Hennepin and Ramsey Counties.

“As heroin continues to claim the lives of people across our state, we must step up our efforts to combat this dangerous drug,” said Klobuchar. “With some of  cheapest and purest heroin in the country coming to Minnesota from Mexico, I am calling on the DEA to step up its interdiction efforts at the border and work with state and local law enforcement to prevent this drug from flooding the streets of Minnesota.”

Klobuchar is calling on the Drug Enforcement Agency to increase its focus on the deadly spike in heroin use. Coming from Mexico up I-35 or through Chicago, Minnesota has some of the cheapest and purest heroin in the country. Klobuchar is urging the DEA to step up its interdiction efforts at the Mexican border and work with state and local law enforcement to combat the problem.

Heroin use has become a major problem in communities across Minnesota.  In 2013, there were 54 deaths caused by heroin overdoses in Hennepin County. Hospital emergency departments visits for heroin have nearly tripled from 2004 to 2011. In the 7,000-person community of St. Francis, three young people have died of opiate-related overdoses since May.

###