Hillary Clinton Willing to Cross Border to Combat Heroin

— -- Democratic presidential contender Hillary Clinton said that she would take the fight against heroin beyond America's borders if need be, according to an exclusive interview with ABC News affiliate WMUR.

Substance abuse has become a mainstay during Clinton's campaign. When confronted by WMUR’s Josh McElveen at an event earlier today about soaring heroin usage in the Granite State, Clinton suggested turning the war on drugs to the Southern border.

"I think you have to,” responded Clinton. “This has to be a comprehensive strategy. And we know that this cheap heroin that is killing so many people is coming across our border."

According to the White House, Mexico is the "primary supplier of heroin to the United States" and "cultivation in Mexico remains high."

Cultivation in Colombia has been dropping steadily since 2001, according to the White House - 1,100 hectares in 2009.

By contrast Mexico was producing from 10,500 hectares in 2012, the White House said.

Production of heroin in Southeast Asia has declined and Latin America has emerged as the "primary supplier" of heroin to the U.S. -- Mexico west of the Mississippi and Colombia east of the river, the White House said.

Mexican Armed forces have had difficulty dealing with poppy production because they have had to deal with violence among the cartels, according to the White House.

New Hampshire governor, Maggie Hassan, endorsed Clinton at an event at the University of New Hampshire where she was to focus on the rising cost of college tuition, but she took aim at addiction during her speech.

“I hear a lot of different questions and ideas but there is some common theme. One of them I just said, addiction,” said Clinton. “Only before I walked into this room a woman thanked me for making it a presidential election issue because she lost her son to heroin.”