Police: Heroin overdoses have killed 41 across Birmingham

FOX6 News was out Friday with Birmingham Narcotics officers as they conducted a heroin bust.

Heroin use is a problem that authorities say is growing rapidly in Jefferson County.

"The problem is persistent not only in the city of Birmingham but there's an issue in surrounding municipalities," Capt. Lloyd Jones said. "Over the past few years, we have seen an increase and in some cases it's been a significant increase."

Jones works with the Birmingham Police Department's Narcotics Unit says on a monthly basis, about 20 to 25 percent of their case load involves heroin either through patrol arrests or in cases his team follows.

This year in Jefferson County alone there have been a record 41 people who have died from heroin overdoses. Thirty of those people were under 40 years old.

"Because of the deaths...it is an issue that needs to be addressed," Jones said. "And I think one of the good things is we're trying to get together but with other municipalities and combat this problem."

Copyright 2012 WBRC. All rights reserved.