Heroin Overdoses Climb To More Than 50 In 2 Days In Cincinnati

Heroin overdoses rapidly increase with more than 50 overdoses in Cincinnati over the weekend. The Hamilton County Heroin Coalition reported over 30 overdoses on Monday with 33 more people have overdosed since Tuesday. These includes three fatal overdoses.

The police officials said that the heroin might be mixed with fentanyl, carfentanil or even rat poison. These ingredients produce a greater high and a greater risk of overdose and death than pure heroin. The deadly drug cocktails are proven resistant to treatments just like Narcan that have lessened the overdose death rates. One of the victims of Cincinnati overdoses had been given two doses of Narcan, according to ABC News.

Experts said that mixing fentanyl and carfentanil with heroin could make the users a more intense high. This heightens the chances of death. For overdoses of heroin combined with these drugs, multiple doses of naloxone often are needed, according to USA Today.

"Please spread the word," Seymour Police posted a message on Facebook on Tuesday. It stated, "Heroin laced with fentanyl causing overdose deaths at the alarming rate." "If you know anyone that may come in contact with this heroin, please warn them!!! You may save their life!"

Capt. Aaron Jones of the Cincinnati Police Department said they suspected the connection of several street-level dealers in the very dangerous batch and with at least one giving it away for free. "Of the victims (Tuesday) that would talk to us and were honest in telling us where they received this heroin from, it's from several different people ... from several different areas," said Jones. "Some of those were given almost as what we call testers -- 'Try this out and if you like it, you can get a hold of me.'"

Meanwhile, The West Virginia town had 27 heroin overdoses too within 4 hours a week ago. It is reported that there were over 47,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in 2014. A United Nations study printed in June indicates that the number of heroin users in the U.S. reached one million in 2014 and the heroin-related deaths have increased five-fold since 2000.