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Feds aggressively investigating spike in local heroin overdoses

WASHINGTON COUNTY, Pa. — A brand new batch of heroin overdoses in western Pennsylvania has again grabbed the attention of the feds.

United States Attorney David J. Hickton addressed the issue during a news conference on Wednesday, announcing a Public Health Emergency.

  • CLICK HERE for information on available resources for addicts seeking help in the Pittsburgh area

“It is urgent, that people who love addicts get them off the street into care,” said Hickton.

Hickton said there have been 15 non-fatal heroin overdoses in Washington County over the past several days, and about the same number of heroin overdoses in Cambria County.

Across the region, over the past two years, there has been a rise in heroin overdose related deaths.

In Westmoreland County, there were a total of 119 total overdose deaths in 2015, 52 of those deaths were from heroin. In 2014, only 36 deaths were heroin overdoses.

In 2015, Allegheny County had a total of 349 overdose deaths, 206 of them were due to heroin. There were a total of 157 heroin overdose deaths in 2014.

The bags recovered from the overdose scenes in Washington County are marked with a picture of a black boot or labeled ‘Piece of Mind.’

At least eight of the Cambria County cases involved a bag labeled “BULLETPROOF” in red, with a black and red skull above it.

Hickton said some of the heroin samples from Washington County contained fentanyl. Lab results from Cambria County were not available Wednesday.

In the past week, there have also been several fatal overdoses in Allegheny and Cambria counties involving stamp bags labeled "Black Ops,” according to a press release from Hickton's office.

Hickton said Wednesday the majority of the overdose victims were saved with the use of Narcan, an opioid reversal drug, administered by local emergency medical services personnel and police.

“There is hope, as long as you are alive; there is hope for you,” said Susan Pryor, a recovered heroin addict, whose life was saved with Narcan.

Narcan is available to the public without a prescription at numerous drug stores throughout our state.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Drug Enforcement Administration are partnering with Hickton's office and local authorities to investigate every overdose.

Any officer that now encounters heroin overdoses are being asked to turn the case files over to the FBI Fusion Center located in Cranberry, where they will track trends and cases in the epidemic.

There is six DEA investigators working full-time in Washington County, and seeking maximum penalties to heroin dealers.

Hickton said investigators have identified suspects in the distribution of heroin in both Washington and Cambria counties, and are working to make arrests.

“We have already ID’d suspects in both counties and are working on arrests”

In addition, the DEA has set up a tip line at 412-287-3829. Tips can also be sent via text message with the keyword DEAPA to TIP411.

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