Illinois lawmakers to form heroin task force

Illinois lawmakers are forming a task force to address what they say is a growing epidemic of heroin use.

State Rep. Lou Lang announced Tuesday that House Speaker Michael Madigan has appointed him to lead the new panel.

Lang says the task force will hold four public hearings in Chicago and its suburbs during the spring legislative session.

Lang says the heroin crisis is plaguing Illinois, particularly families in Chicago and the suburbs. The Skokie Democrat is calling for "bold" legislative action.

He says "What we're doing now is failing."

DuPage County reported a record 46 heroin-related deaths in 2013. Elected officials from the suburban Chicago county said last week they plan to propose several pieces of legislation they hope will prevent substance abuse.