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Heroin Use On The Rise In The Twin Cities

By Steve Murphy, NewsRadio 830 WCCO

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A new report finds a growing use of heroin in the Twin Cities.

Carol Falkowski of the Minnesota Department of Human Services says the number of people admitted for treatment of heroin and opiate addiction doubled over the past decade. Availability of the drug is a major reason.

NewsRadio 830 WCCO's Steve Murphy Reports

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"Most people don't realize that, for many drug abusers, heroin is just a phone call away," she said.

Falkowski said the increase is linked to the Mexican pipeline, which once brought cocaine and now brings heroin.

"It has to do with availability and it has to do with high purity heroin at very low prices," she said.

Other trends in the twice-annual report: a decline in cocaine use but an increase in synthetic marijuana.

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