New York City has recently experienced a drastic increase in the number of deaths associated with heroin overdoses. The city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports that the number of deaths has risen 84 percent from 2010 to 2012, and officials have started taking many steps to try to control the amount of heroin entering the state.

The city is believed to be one of the main entry points for the drug in the region. Police believe that the increase in heroin use can be attributed to the state's crackdown on prescription drug crimes. Those who may have started abusing pills might be unable to get the painkillers, and need to find a more readily available replacement. Since heroin is so easy to find and incredibly addictive, many individuals find themselves trapped in a very dangerous pattern of abuse.

Law enforcement is considering several different ways of addressing this problem. They are going to be more aggressive in targeting those who bring the drugs into the city. Police from several states in the region have started working together to study the methods that they are using to determine the effectiveness of these practices against the spread of the drug.

There is also a proposal that would allow law enforcement officers to begin carrying the drug naloxone, which has proven to be successful in curbing heroin overdoses. State Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman wants to have all police have the ability to be able to access naloxone in urgent situations. The costs of the program would be covered by the assets seized in other drug cases.

Additionally, Senator Charles Schumer has called for the creation of a database that would allow police in New York to share information concerning heroin and other drug crimes. It would be similar to the database used to track prescription pain medication, which was designed to prevent doctor-shopping among individuals looking for access to drugs. The database would allow police to understand where to focus their efforts when trying to slow the use of heroin in certain areas.

With police becoming more aggressive in dealing with these types of drug crimes, you need to understand how important it is to provide a strong defense to these allegations. A conviction could result in very serious consequences, including extensive prison time for certain offenses.

You should speak to an experienced criminal defense attorney to learn more about the things that you can do to protect yourself throughout the process. Do not speak to law enforcement until you have had an opportunity to discuss your case with your attorney. Police may seem like they are concerned for your well-being, but they are trying to gather as much evidence as possible to use against you to try to prove your guilt.