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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Reno: Act Now To Combat Heroin

Associated Press

Heroin is more plentiful, purer and less expensive than it was just a few years ago, and authorities must act now to prevent an expected increase in addiction, Attorney General Janet Reno said Wednesday.

“Recent trends in heroin’s availability, purity and price clearly indicate that this is one of the most critical problems we face in fighting narcotics in this country today,” Reno said. “If we do not counteract the heroin threat now, we risk repeating the terrible consequences of the 1980s’ cocaine and crack epidemic.”

Authorities estimate that heroin addiction has increased 20 percent and worldwide production of the drug has grown sharply, she said.

Reno spoke before about 250 law enforcement officials who gathered in this Washington suburb to trade ideas and develop the beginnings of a national strategy to fight heroin.

“It is time to develop enforcement and prevention strategies together before we have this demon totally out of control,” she said.

Heroin use is up even as overall illegal drug use in declining, she said.

“It is now being supplied in greater quantity, higher purity; it’s being purchased by a growing number of users and addicts,” Reno said of the drug.

For more and more drug users, heroin is replacing crack cocaine as their drug of choice, Reno said.