NYC Narcotics Prosecutor Talks About Wisconsin’s Heroin Problem

One of the nation’s top drug prosecutors was in Milwaukee Thursday discussing her concerns about the growing use of heroin.

Bridget Brennan is New York City’s special narcotics prosecutor. She says besides targeting sellers of heroin, more needs to be done to discourage young people from starting to use the drug. Brennan recommends peers, or what she calls “cultural heroes,” speaking to high schoolers.

“That kind of a speaker, who can talk to young people, will really be able to hold their attention,” she said, “rather than somebody like me — who has a lot of wisdom, don’t get me wrong! — but they won’t hear what I have to say or think it has validity.”

Brennan is from Milwaukee and went to law school at UW-Madison. Also today, Milwaukee’s Common Council called for a regional summit in southeastern Wisconsin on the increase in heroin use.