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Schumer Pushes for More Funding for Federal Anti-Drug Initiative

The number of heroin deaths in Rochester is up 300% since 2012. Last year, almost 100 people died from overdoses. Authorities report that a particularly dangerous mix of heroin cut with fentanyl is responsible for more than half of those deaths.

In the wake of this information, Senator Chuck Schumer says now is not the time to cut funding for a federal anti-drug initiative.

The Obama Administration has proposed reducing funds for the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program, or HIDTA, by over $50 million. The program has been in operation since the 1990s, and Monroe County was added to the New York-New Jersey section in 2007.

Schumer says HIDTA is essential in keeping the lines of communication open between federal and local law enforcement.

"Heroin is grown abroad and is imported, and it's the federal government that tracks it. So if there's a new bunch of heroin that's coming through a certain gang in New York City, our federal government will know about it and can coordinated with the Rochester Police Department about how to deal with it."

Funds from HIDTA help support the Greater Rochester Area Narcotics Enforcement Team, or GRANET. This team was responsible for taking down an alleged drug trafficking ring last year.

Veronica Volk is a senior editor and producer for WXXI News.