March 23, 2014 (CHICAGO) (WLS) -- U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has called the increase in heroin related deaths an 'urgent and growing public health crisis.'
The number increased by 45-percent between 2006 and 2010. That increase was also seen right here in the Chicago area.
But Will County officials say they saw a decrease last year... the first since the coroner began tracking heroin overdose deaths in 1999.
The total was 35, down from 53 in 2012. Some credit an initiative called H-E-L-P-Sshort for 'Heroin Education Leads to Preventative Solutions.'
Joining us to talk more about it and the heroin problem are Will County Executive Larry Walsh and John Roberts a father who lost his son to a heroin
overdose and co-founder of hero 'Heroin Epidemic Relief Organization.
You can learn more about John Roberts organization HERO at www.theherofoundation.org
And for information about an upcoming summit on the heroin epidemic go to www.herohelpsevent.com