Cleveland Clinic, federal prosecutors hosting daylong summit on growing heroin epidemic

11/17/2013

CLEVELAND — More than 600 people have signed up for a daylong conference on a growing heroin epidemic in northeastern Ohio.

The Cleveland Clinic and federal prosecutors are hosting the event this coming Thursday.

U.S. Attorney Steven Dettelbach calls the increasing heroin use in the region a public health crisis.

He says fighting heroin involves prevention and treatment in addition to arrests.

Last month 32 people were charged and in September 92 people were indicted in heroin investigations in the Cleveland area.

Cuyahoga County is on pace for 200 heroin-related deaths this year, up from 40 in 2007.