U.S. attorney looking for source of heroin that caused 15 overdoses in Washington County
U.S. Attorney David Hickton
U.S. Attorney David Hickton addresses reporters at a press conference in Pittsburgh on a recent spike in heroin overdoses related to a fentanyl-laced batch of the drug.
PITTSBURGH – The U.S. attorney for Western Pennsylvania has issued a warning after a large number of nonfatal heroin overdoses occurred in Washington and Cambria counties in recent days.
In Washington County alone, there have been 15 overdoses over the last several days, said U.S. Attorney David Hickton at a news conference Wednesday at the federal building in Pittsburgh.
“The good news is they were revived by Narcan administered by paramedics or police,” Hickton said. “There was a similar number over a 24-hour period back in August with many of those passing away because the Narcan was not available.”
In late 2014, the state changed the law to allow first responders to administer the antidote, and it was still being implemented in many departments last year.
The stamp bags that have been found are marked with a picture of a black boot, or the names Peace of Mind or Black Ops.
“These are very risky because they are laced with fentanyl,” Hickton said. “We are working on identifying suspects who sold the drug and working on arrests.”
Hickton said there are six federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents working with local police analyzing data on overdoses. Hickton also noted his office has been getting cooperation from Canonsburg police.
The FBI also has created the Fusion Center, which is focusing on the heroin epidemic, Hickton said. Investigators at the center have standardized the collection of evidence relating to heroin overdoses and have trained police across the region on the overdose protocol.
“The Fusion Center is a good way to track the heroin, which is something we did not have before,” Canonsburg police Chief Al Coghill said. “It allows us to direct our resources in a more efficient manner.”
A Canonsburg woman is alive thanks to some bystanders. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation was administered until emergency medical personnel arrived to give her Narcan after she crashed her vehicle into a tree behind a business in the 600 block of West Pike Street about 1 p.m. Tuesday. Canonsburg police said the woman’s infant daughter was in the back seat of the car.
Coghill said police found stamp bags marked Peace of Mind in the car.
“We believe that she had purchased the stamp bags and had injected herself while in the parking lot,” Coghill said. “It hit her just she was pulling out of the lot. Her vehicle accelerated and hit the tree with her daughter in the back.”
“Some good bystanders knew there was some sort of problem and broke out the back window of the vehicle, got her out and started CPR,” he added. “They may have been instrumental in saving her life. Then she received the Narcan and was revived.”
The woman and infant were taken to Canonsburg Hospital, where the baby was treated for a small cut. Children and Youth Services was notified and the baby was released to her father.
The woman, whose name was not released by police, will be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, endangering the welfare of a child and reckless endangerment.
Coghill cautioned anyone from coming into contact with even empty stamp bags of suspected heroin, particularly it is laced with fentanyl, which can be absorbed through the skin.
“People need to consider all heroin deadly,” Coghill said. “Not all heroin is laced with fentanyl, but users need to err on the side of caution and consider that it all is.”
Canton Township fire Chief Dave Gump said firefighters administered their first dose of Narcan when a man at a home on West Chestnut Street overdosed Monday night. Earlier that day, firefighters were called to a crash on Henderson Avenue near Oak Grove Road after a man overdosed while driving and crashed into another vehicle. Gump said there were no injuries in the crash, although the man who overdosed was taken to Washington Hospital.
South Strabane Township police reported two more overdoses Tuesday including a 35-year-old Coraopolis man found in the restroom of an Oak Spring Road business. Police had responded to Walmart, Trinity Point, Monday afternoon after three people overdosed. North Franklin police also were called to two overdoses earlier this week, said Sgt. Jerry Cavanaugh.
Hickton said that the heroin epidemic is the worst he has ever seen. He said there also needs to be an end to the stigma associated with the addiction.
“It is an illness killing people,” Hickton said. “It is fed by heartless drug dealers who may not use it, but profit from it.”
Police in Greene County have not responded to any drug overdoses in recent days, but District Attorney Marjorie Fox sent an email to each police department Wednesday morning informing officers of the situation in neighboring counties.
“With anything like this, we share information and cooperate,” Fox said.
Hickton encouraged anyone with information about drug dealers and their activity to call a special tip line at 412-287-3829 or text Tip411 and the keyword PGHOD followed by the tip information. More resources can also be found for substance use disorder education, prevention and recovery at www.overdosefreepa.pitt.edu/ through the University of Pittsburgh Program, Education and Research unit.