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AACO Stepping Up To Fight Heroin Crisis

ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY, Md. (WJZ)--In an effort to battle the heroin crisis in Anne Arundel County, a task force is moving forward with a new action plan.

Tracey Leong has the details.

The heroin crisis seeping throughout Maryland has become a problem too invasive to ignore especially in Anne Arundel County.

"Last year we averaged losing one person a week to opioid addiction, and we are on track to do the same thing this year," said Chief Tim Altomare, Anne Arundel County Police.

Heroin overdose deaths are spanning all across the state, not just in Anne Arundel County. In 2014, 450 people died from the drug, a 50 percent increase since 2010.

One of those deaths, 19-year-old Hannah McLaughlin. Her parents speak to Jessica Kartalija in a WJZ special report.

"Called her name, shook her and she didn't respond, no parent should have to do that," said Hannah's mom.

Also a personal mission for Governor Larry Hogan, whose administration is stepping up to fight the heroin war.

"Lost a first cousin to a heroin overdose, just a couple years ago, so I know the kind of devastation it can cause for families and communities," said Governor Hogan.

Anne Arundel County's executive and heroin action task force now joining forces with the governor.

"Its tearing families and communities apart," Hogan said.

Governor Hogan telling Vic Carter in a WJZ Exclusive Report that it's a crisis that needs to be tackled from every angle in order to wipe out the highly addictive drug from reaching out and educating the community to treating addicts and cutting off the source.

"This heroin problem has started to defy socioeconomic status assignment, jumps demographic boundaries," said Chief Altomare.

This plan will include three components: education, treatment opportunities for those addicted and increased enforcement to take out the dealers that traffic heroin.

The goal is to implement the plan over the next ten years.

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