Heroin popping up in Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - The Terre Haute Drug Task Force is seeing heroin pop up on the streets.

“In my 17 years with the Drug Task Force, we’ve rarely seen heroin,” said Detective Denzel Lewis, Terre Haute Police Department Drug Task Force.
    
Lewis said the task force isn't sure what's causing the sudden uptick.

“It’s a highly addictive drug. And it causes a lot of problems in the community,” said Lewis.

Or, they say, it could be a shortage of other drugs.

Oftentimes, when meth or cocaine users can't get their fix, they substitute with a different kind of drug.

But one thing's for sure, it's becoming more prevalent in the community.

“At this point, we’re just trying to identify the sources a quickly as possible. Identify the sources and get them arrested as quickly as possible to try to eliminate this drug from causing a tidal wave or surge in our community,” said Lewis.

The task force has already made several arrests in heroin distribution.