Pubdate: Sat, 05 Aug 2006
Source: Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, PA)
Copyright: 2006 The Standard-Speaker
Contact:  http://www.standardspeaker.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1085
Author: Jill C. Whalen
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/heroin.htm (Heroin)

HEROIN DEATHS INCREASING IN TAMAQUA

Since mid-June, there have been five apparent fatal drug overdoses in 
Tamaqua, with the most recent occurring Friday morning. Although 
Tamaqua police are awaiting the results of four of the toxicology 
tests, one of the deaths was confirmed to have been caused by 
fentanyl-laced heroin.

Tamaqua Patrolman Dave Mattson, who is investigating several of the 
cases, is not ruling out the possibility that the potent heroin 
mixture caused all of the deaths.

"The information we have is that there's an increase in Pennsylvania 
in the number of deaths (overdoses), and they're saying it's a 
mixture of heroin and fentanyl," Mattson said. "That's what I suspect 
is happening here." According to the federal Drug Enforcement 
Administration, fentanyl-laced heroin is responsible for several 
hundred confirmed deaths over the past few months in Michigan, 
Illinois, Ohio, Missouri, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware and 
Maryland. Fentanyl is a prescription painkiller considered 15 to 20 
times more powerful than morphine. Mattson said that during his 15 
years as a policeman in Tamaqua, he has never seen so many fatal 
overdoes in the borough over such a short period of time.

Just after 9 a.m. Friday, Schuylkill County Coroner David Dutcavich 
pronounced dead the latest possible victim, a 35-year-old woman. 
Within the past few months, Dutcavich said, four others in the county 
- - one from the western end and three from the Pottsville area - have 
died from apparent overdoses.

He said that toxicology tests have not been completed on the four, 
but expects the results within the next few weeks.

Although Dutcavich cannot confirm the cause of the deaths since 
toxicology tests are pending, he noted that the fentanyl-laced heroin 
is finding its way into the area.

Mattson said that a batch of the powerful heroin may have made its 
way into Tamaqua from Reading.

"The information that I got is that it's coming in already laced 
(with fentanyl)," Mattson said. He wasn't sure whether drug users 
were aware that the drug is laced before they take it.

He said that of those who apparently overdosed, only one was a 
female. In each case, it appeared that the drug was injected. Each of 
the individuals, Mattson said, had used heroin for "a long period of 
time." The deceased ranged in age from 30 to 45 years old. "As long 
as you keep taking heroin, your number is going to come up," Mattson warned.

He added that there may be more people who are taking the drug and 
not overdosing, but said no chances should be taken.

"The people should know that the heroin might be causing these 
deaths," Mattson said.

Mattson encouraged members of the public to report any suspicious 
activities to police. He also urged those who use illegal drugs to 
get help. "The longer they wait, the more chance they have of running 
into this stuff," Mattson said.
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MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman