Senator forms group to battle suburban heroin use

U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk has launched a task force he says will tackle surging incidents of heroin abuse in suburban Chicago.

Joining the Illinois Republican in launching the Suburban Anti-Heroin Task Force on Monday were Lake County State's Attorney Mike Nerheim and DuPage County Coroner Dr. Rich Jorgensen.

According to Kirk, people often think suburban children are immune from drug addiction. He noted that since 2012, more than 390 people in Lake, DuPage, McHenry, Will and Kane counties have died from a heroin overdose.

Kirk also pointed out the importance of the intranasal spray Narcan in the fight to save lives during an overdose. He pointed out that between January and October in DuPage County the spray was 100% successful, saving each of the 22 people it was used on.