The recent spike in heroin overdoses in LaPorte County has authorities there on high alert. LaPorte County EMS ambulance crews have responded to 18 overdoses in the past week. Of those, 15 involved heroin and three involved synthetic marijuana. EMS officials treated 11 of those patients with 17 doses of Narcan. They say six patients received multiple doses of the medication.
The overdose patients are between 18 and 58 years old. So far three people have died as a result of suspected overdoses—a 19-year-old man in LaPorte on Saturday, a 24-year-old man last Friday in LaPorte and a 58-year old woman in rural LaPorte County.
The LaPorte County Drug Task Force continues to investigate cases as they are notified. So far only a small amount of the suspected narcotic has been recovered. It will be sent to a laboratory for analysis. Additionally in some cases the scenes are cleaned up before emergency responders arrive. Task Force Sergeant Andy Hynek says that makes investigating even more difficult. Also in some cases Hynek says people are treating the overdose on their own without calling for medical assistance.
LaPorte County Sheriff John Boyd urges families and friends of those involved with the drug trade to be watchful of their loved ones. He says the sheriff’s department and their partners in law enforcement remain as committed as ever to helping stem the tide of narcotics related sickness and death.
