EDITORIAL: Porter County takes honest approach to heroin problem

The county has taken a long, comprehensive look in the mirror in recent years where its heroin challenges are concerned.

It carefully culled and reviewed data, which recently revealed a surge in heroin-related deaths to a record high of 20 last year. That is nearly double each of the two prior years.

We've been hearing about a high incidence of heroin use and related deaths in Porter County for several years. We also know the potentially deadly and highly addictive narcotic infects neighboring counties and communities.

But out of all Region reporting areas, Porter seems to be the one taking the deepest dive into that reality and trying to improve its response to the problem.

Porter County law enforcement took a big step in this direction last week, announcing the county's undercover drug unit, previously under the auspices of the Porter County prosecutor, would be consolidated under the leadership of the Porter County sheriff.

The sheriff's department already houses the officers and other logistical teams focused on fighting heroin abuse within the county's borders. It only makes sense to place a unit, with an inherent law enforcement function, under law enforcement leadership.

It also liberates prosecutors to do what they do best — seek convictions against those who perpetuate the drug problems in Porter County communities.

The surge in drug-related deaths reportedly startled members of the Porter County Council during a recent meeting the body had with local law enforcement.

Rather than being stunned in their tracks, government and law enforcement officials are forging a new plan of attack, realizing that stagnant approaches of old are no longer cutting it.

It's an example that can and should be applied in other communities and levels of Northwest Indiana government.

Take an honest look at the problem, don't sugarcoat it and develop new plans of eradicating it.