Overdoses becoming a daily event at Lafayette emergency rooms

“It averages out to be about (1.15) ODs every day. It’s more than one a day,"  said Pauline Shen,  Tippecanoe County epidemiologist.

“The point is that overdoses are a huge part of what’s happening now, and I think the public doesn’t have a sense of that.”

The data collected from St. Elizabeth East and IU Health Arnett Hospital emergency rooms indicate only the treatment, nothing specific about the patient, Shen said. The overdoses could be from heroin, Spice, crack, prescription drugs or alcohol, although officials say they are most concerned about heroin and Spice.

Some drugs easier to treat

Shen is part of a community heroin task force. But heroin isn't the only overdose concern, she said. The data include any substance that is over-consumed — basically any time a person showed up for treatment for overdosing.

“We’re seeing (overdoses) more frequently than we’d like to," said Dr. Joel Parker, a St. Elizabeth East emergency room physician.

Specifically, he said, “We’re seeing more Spice abuse."

In law enforcement, Spice is described as "synthetic marijuana," but it often is tobacco that is sprayed with a substance to evoke a high, Parker said.

“When they buy Spice and marijuana, they don’t know what they’re lacing it with,” he said.

Spice overdoses oftentimes are worse than heroin overdoses, Parker said. With heroin overdoses, a drug — Narcan — can reverse the effects of opiates. So if paramedics or police get to the heroin overdose quickly  enough, they can save the addict's life.

“Heroin is so easily reversed,” said Dr. Rickin Shah, an IU Health Arnett emergency room physician. “In most cases, we’re pretty successful at that.”

“With Spice, you just wait it out,” Parker said.