Death from heroin overdose skyrocketed in the Twin Cities

The number of death resulted from heroin overdose almost tripled in the Twin Cities in 2011 and heroin purchased in the Twin Cities had the highest potency in the nation, according to the Star Tribune.

Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek told KARE heroin addicts usually starts in the medicine cabinet because heroin are cheaper, alternative painkillers. Will Connell, a staff member of a chemical addition treatment program in Minnesota who was a past addict, told the Star Tribune it was the reason why he became addicted to heroin.

Sheriff Stanek told KARE Minnesota has heroin with a high purity rate because the drug comes directly from its source in Mexico and therefore is never diluted from its initial state, and the drug sells off at a higher price with higher purity.

The overdose problem is seen as "an old problem returns," according to the Star Tribune. Ramsey County Sheriff Matt Bostrom told the Star Tribune the drug was a major problem a generation ago. The high purity of the drug makes it easier to overdose, according to the Star Tribune.