Pubdate: Mon, 16 Dec 2002
Source: Birmingham News, The (AL)
Copyright: 2002 The Birmingham News
Contact:  http://www.al.com/birminghamnews/today/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/45
Author: Carol Robinson
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?132 (Heroin Overdose)

NO SIGN DEADLY HEROIN TAINTED, OFFICIALS SAY

An investigation into two mysterious heroin deaths last month failed to 
turn up evidence that tainted drugs played a role.

Authorities believe the men, who were found within hours of each other, 
died from routine drug overdose rather than drugs laced with a poison.

The two men were found dead Nov. 4 on opposite sides of the city. One had a 
syringe protruding from his left hand; the other was found with a syringe 
and other drug tools beneath him.

Birmingham Police Chief Mike Coppage called the two deaths which were 
rapid, if not instantaneous highly unusual and issued a rare public warning 
to drug users to use extreme caution.

Police launched an investigation to determine whether the deaths were 
routine overdoses, drugs tainted with something like strychnine or rat 
poison, or a "hot shot," where the drug is at potentially fatal strength.

Toxicology testing concluded there wasn't enough residue in the syringes to 
say whether poison was involved, he said.

"We don't know for sure," Coppage said. "It was just the weird set of 
circumstances that led us toward that at first."

Most likely, the deaths resulted from fatal strength of the heroin, 
according to Coppage and Jefferson County Chief Deputy Coroner Jay Glass.

"It's not unusual when switching from cocaine to heroin to overdose," 
Coppage said.

Glass explained that drug users accustomed to buying and using a certain 
volume of cocaine often make the mistake of consuming the same quantity of 
heroin.

Also, heroin is usually injected, which puts it into the system more quickly.

"The heroin is much stronger and it's a different effect," he said. 
"Cocaine is primarily a stimulant of the central nervous system. The heroin 
is a depressant, which puts them into respiratory arrest."
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