NEWS

Fentanyl-laced heroin blamed for overdose spike

Mike Emery
Palladium-Item

Drug addicts put their lives in danger each time they chase their next high, but it has become even more risky recently as heroin laced with another substance has made its way into Wayne County.

Heroin overdoses have increased significantly in Wayne County.

Fentanyl, a synthetic opioid analgesic many times more potent than heroin, apparently has contributed to a recent rash of drug overdoses and deaths in the county.

Coroner Ron Stevens and Richmond Police Department Sgt. James Mastriano, leader of the Wayne County Drug Task Force, said fentanyl is in some of the heroin being sold in Wayne County, making the dangerous drug even more deadly.

Stevens said there were seven overdoses and two deaths during just one day late last week.

Although Stevens officially will not declare a death heroin-related until he receives toxicology results, he said Wayne County's 2016 death total likely now is in the teens after six heroin-related deaths were confirmed through February.

That puts Wayne County well ahead of 2015's pace. Stevens continues to wait for final results on some cases from last year, but he said the final total of heroin-related deaths in 2015 will be in the 20s, averaging nearly two per month.

A total in the teens through March would put the county on pace to more than double that average.

And fentanyl seems at least partially responsible.

The fentanyl is cut into the heroin, making the drug more potent. If an addict uses the same amount of laced heroin as was used without the fentanyl, an overdose can result. Heroin that's extremely pure also can lead to an overdose.

Stevens said needles have been found at overdose scenes, including some still in the vein, which can indicate fentanyl's presence because of its rapid onset.

Unfortunately, Stevens said, heroin users often find the more potent fentanyl-laced heroin more appealing because of its enhanced effect, regardless of the danger. He said users think they know what they're doing more than others who were victimized by fentanyl.

Stevens said fentanyl, which had been targeted by the FBI, now is prevalent in Dayton, so much so that there were 23 deaths attributed to fentanyl-laced heroin in one week in that area.

"It's back with a vengeance," he said.

Ed Seban, the director of Richmond Fire Department's EMS service, said RFD has seen a "significant increase in overdoses" during the past week and during March.

He said RFD has been dispatched for overdoses eight times and has administered 13 doses of Narcan, an opiate overdose antidote, during March. The 2016 totals are 22 overdose calls and 23 doses of Narcan.

That means RFD already has been dispatched for an overdose more times in March than the average for January and February and has administered more doses of Narcan in March than in January and February combined.

Wayne County Emergency Communications received 10 calls specifically for overdoses from March 14 through Monday, including eight from Thursday through Monday, according to a records search of emergency calls.

Dispatch statistics will be lower than the actual number of overdoses because 911 calls for unknown medical issues or unresponsive persons are sometimes discovered to be overdoses when first responders arrive on the scene.

Upcoming forums

Three forums discussing Wayne County's addiction problems have been scheduled for the first week of April. All three events are free and open to the public.

  • Nettle Creek School Corporation is presenting assemblies conducted by Steered Straight, a motivational program founded by Michael Deleon of Vineland, N.J., on April 5. Students in grades 5-12 from Nettle Creek and Western Wayne schools will attend assemblies during the school day, and a community assembly will be presented at 6 p.m. in the Hagerstown Jr.-Sr. High School auditorium. Topics of the evening session will include drug trends affecting Wayne County youth, warning signs and available resources and solutions.
  • Reid Health and Indiana University East will host Operation: Street Smart from the Franklin County (Ohio) Sheriff's Department undercover narcotics unit for a program from noon to 4 p.m. on April 6 at IU East's Vivian Auditorium. Check-in will be from 11 to 11:45 a.m. with lunch provided to those registering by April 4 at operationstreetsmart.eventbrite.com. The presentation will provide information on up-to-date narcotics trends, terminology, paraphernalia, concealment techniques and physiological effects. Operation: Street Smart has received the FBI Director's Award for Community Leadership and the Project Know Award.
  • Cambridge City Crime Watch is partnering with Reid Health to conduct a drug abuse and crime forum from 6 to 8 p.m. April 7 at Golay Community Center. Goals are to receive facts about abuse and crime and learn how each person can make a difference in the fight against substance abuse.