A tough start to 2016 in Washington County.
During the week of February 7, 2016 police started to see an increase in overdoses from heroin. In one week alone there were 15 confirmed cases, bringing the total overdoses in the county to 28 before the month has even ended.
At least three of the overdoses have been fatal.
Several of the people who had overdosed have been "brought back" by the use of Narcan by the responding police agency, medical personnel, and in some cases it was administered by friends or family members.
Narcan is a medication carried by local police agencies and medical personnel and is used to reverse the effects of opioids, especially in overdoses. Early test results are pointing in the direction of this heroin containing fentanyl.
There were nine heroin overdoses in the month of January.
As a result of these overdoses, Agents with the Washington County Narcotics Task Force have been interviewing victims and their families and have been able to come up with several leads. These investigations will be continuing.
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