Heroin additive driving overdoses nationwide, DEA says in latest alert

Steven Porter, (Lafayette) Journal and Courier

Wednesday, March 18, 2015 10:07 AM

A highly potent pain drug commonly mixed into batches of heroin is driving overdoses nationwide, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warned in an alert issued Wednesday.

Fentanyl and its analogues are at least 30 times more powerful than heroin and up to 100 times more potent than morphine, making it extremely dangerous to users and police who come into contact with it, said DEA Administrator Michele Leonhart.

The drug can be absorbed through the skin or accidentally inhaled, according to the DEA.

Ingesting a dose as little as 0.25 mg can be fatal.

Pilot program at Schneck Medical Center in Seymour tracks newborn drug problem
Heroin impacts Wayne County area births and deaths
Five fatal heroin overdoses reported in Tippecanoe County in last 10 days
Heroin use at 'epidemic' level in Boone County and Central Indiana, officials say

Related Sites

Journal and Courier full text

HOME

Editor, John C. DePrez Jr.; Executive Editor, Carol Rogers; Publishers: IBRC and IAR

{1}

##LOC[OK]##

{1}

##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

{1}

##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

{1}

##LOC[OK]##

{1}

##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##

{1}

##LOC[OK]## ##LOC[Cancel]##