The Lake County jail is filled and 70 percent of inmates, police said, are in for crimes connected to heroin.
In 2014, the Lake County Heroin Task Force was formed. "We're trying to look at the problem from all angle," said Lake County Sheriff's Captain Ron Walters.
Although Walters believed the task force was making a difference, heroin deaths continued to skyrocket and Lake County was no different. "I would venture to say that we are almost close this year to all of last year, " said Walters.
Walters said they tried to get the user into treatment and put the dealer in jail. "I've seen enough young kids die, don't need anymore. I don't know how to stop it, but can't just bury your head in the sand," said Walters.
Sandy Miller was a recovering addict who credited Walters and the treatment for heroin addicts in Lake County for helping her get sober. She hasn't used heroin in 33 months. She is a mother, had a job in human resources and lost all of it because of heroin. She was prescribed a pain pill for shingles and she was hooked. "I felt like super mom, super employee," said Miller.
Angie Trend's now 25-year-old son got hooked on heroin after taking pain pills. He was 16 when he had his wisdom teeth removed and the doctor gave him the pain pills. He has been in treatment and off heroin for nine months. But it is still a worry for Trend.
"As a mom you want to protect your kids, but you can't protect them once they get a hold of it," said Trend.
