Heroin Is a Serious Problem in New York City Right Now

When people think of heroin, they think of New York City.

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Saying New York City is experiencing a bit of a heroin epidemic in 2014 would be an understatement of gross proportions.

According to the New York Times, heroin trafficking in the city has spiraled out of control, with seizures reaching a 23-year high: 

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Bridget G. Brennan, the city's special narcotics prosecutor, spoke to the city's status as a leading heroin hub. "We’re kind of the head of the Hydra," she told the Times. "This is highly organized, high volume, and it’s being moved much more efficiently and effectively to reach out to a broader user base."

The Times notes that through April, her office had already seized 288 pounds of heroin. That's more than all of last year, and even more mind-boggling when you consider that her office doesn't deal with small-time busts. Furthermore, roughly 35 percent of the heroin seized by the DEA since last October was recovered by agents in New York. 

To quote Jay-Z, "shit is wicked on these mean streets."

[via New York Times]

RELATED: Authorities Seize Heroin, Cocaine, Weapons and Cash During Bronx Drug Raid

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