Minnesota has high-purity, low-cost heroin

Deaths caused by heroin overdoses in Hennepin, Ramsey and Anoka counties nearly tripled in 2011 compared to the year before.

The number of deaths rose from 16 to 46. This year, Hennepin county sheriff Rich Stanek says there are signs that the heroin problem is "persisting, in fact, maybe even growing."

Stanek, along with the sheriffs from Ramsey and Anoka county held a press conference Thursday to discuss the increased number of young people using heroin in the state.

Cathy Wurzer learns more about the problem from Carol Falkowski, the drug abuse strategy officer for the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

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