 The Hennepin County Sheriff’s Office hosted an Emergency Town Hall Meeting on Thursday night to discuss the rising heroin epidemic in Hennepin County. Throughout the evening, panel members discussed many different aspects relating to heroin. Much of the meeting was focused on several key areas of interest including law enforcement’s crack down on criminal enterprises, the international drug trade, current legislation, and treatment options for those suffering from heroin addiction. The educational meeting provided residents with information about how the drug is affecting their communities, how to use effective prevention strategies, and signs of substance abuse. Experts also provided details about heroin trends including the connection between heroin and prescription pill abuse.
“Heroin has become a crisis situation in Hennepin County and we cannot arrest our way out of this problem,” said Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek, “We need your help to combat this issue because every single heroin overdose death is tragic and preventable.”
The event took place at North Hennepin Community College in Brooklyn Park; around 200 citizens attended the event. Panel Members for the Heroin Town Hall included: Sheriff Rich Stanek, HCSO; Andrew Luger, United States Attorney; Jack Riley, Special Agent in Charge-DEA; Senator Chris Eaton, District 40-Brooklyn Center; Chief Craig Enevoldsen, Brooklyn Park Police Dept.; Chief Kevin Benner, Brooklyn Center Police Dept.; Dr. Joseph Lee, Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation; Adam Pederson, Mn Adult & Teen Challenge; Lt. Andy Smith, HCSO; and Dr. John Lyng, North Memorial Hospital.
The number of heroin overdose deaths during the first three months of 2014 is already a concern. Through March of this year, there have been 17 people who died from heroin overdoses in Hennepin County, compared to 11 at this time last year. In 2013, 56 people in the county died from heroin overdose, which was the highest number of deaths ever recorded due to heroin.
If you are interested in learning more about the issue of heroin in the metro area, check out the following video produced by Partnership for Change. It's a must see for any parent! Medicine It Cures, It Kills
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