Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Monday, January 19, 2015
(VANDERBURGH CO.) - According to the latest statistics, heroin deaths are up for the third straight year and officials say more and more people addicted to prescription drugs, are turning to heroin for a better high.
Steve Lockyear at the Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office says the number of deaths they are seeing due to prescription opiates, or pills, is staggering. That's why he's concerned about heroin filtering into our area when people start looking for that better high.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heroin deaths across the country are up for the third year in a row.
Over 8,000 people died from heroin in 2013.
Officials in the Tri-State say they fear when restrictions on prescription drugs become more stringent, people will start turning to heroin.
Heroin basically tells your lungs to breathe slower and slower and slower until your body isn't getting enough oxygen.
Vanderburgh County officials say they had one or two heroin deaths last year, and five people with drug charges related to heroin. They say they are worried I-69 will provide a corridor for drugs like heroin to move into the Tri-State when it is complete.
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